No increase in psychosocial stress of Dutch children with cancer and their caregivers during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: van Gorp M
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7744828 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:AimsTo analyze trajectories of psychosocial health among people with diabetes during the first three months of lockdowns and reopenings of the COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark.MethodsAn online longitudinal survey of 2430 people with diabetes consisting of six questionnaire waves (Q1-Q6) was conducted between March 19 and June 25, 2020. Psychosocial outcomes assessed were COVID-19 worries, quality of life, feelings of social isolation, psychological distress, diabetes distress, anxiety, and general and diabetes-specific loneliness. Trajectories in psychosocial health were analyzed with linear multilevel mixed-effects models. Subgroup analyses were conducted.ResultsIn total, 1366 (56%) people with diabetes responded to the first questionnaire. COVID-19 worries, feelings of social isolation, psychological distress, anxiety and general loneliness had all improved at Q6 compared to Q1 (p?<?0.001). In general, improvements in psychosocial health started after the first reopening phase (April 15); however, general loneliness increased up to the first reopening phase (p????0.001) before decreasing, and quality of life decreased up to the first reopening phase (p?=?0.002), with no improvements to follow. Subgroup analyses revealed that women had larger decreases in feelings of social isolation (p?<?0.001) and in psychological distress (p?=?0.035) and increases in quality of life (p?<?0.001), between Q1 and Q6, compared to men.ConclusionsPsychosocial health in people with diabetes improved following reopening of society. However, increases in loneliness and decreases in quality of life during lockdown indicates a potential need to mitigate the acute effects of such policies.
| S-EPMC7816585 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The aim of this study was to analyze the psychosocial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on 120 patients with schizophrenia, and their caregivers (control group), in the city of Arica, northern Chile. The hypotheses of this study hold that (1) self-reports of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic among patients and caregivers would be positively correlated, (2) caregivers would self-report a greater impact of the pandemic on their daily lives, and (3) patients infected with COVID-19 would experience lower levels of mental health improvement and higher levels of psychological distress. Hypotheses were tested using correlations, mean differences, and effect sizes (Cohen's d). The results showed that patients with schizophrenia who had been in quarantine for almost a year showed similar levels of concern as their caregivers in the domains of health and social life. However, caregivers showed significant differences from patients in the areas of income, concern, and employment status. In addition, patients who were infected with COVID-19 showed lower levels of well-being and worse psychological recovery. The implications of the findings highlight the need to incorporate mental health interventions in the pandemic health context for caregivers of people with schizophrenia. Finally, the results suggest that Covid-19 infection has a significant effect on the recovery and psychological well-being of patients with schizophrenia.
| S-EPMC8602112 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Due to resource restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, many pediatric patients are facing substantial delays for surgery, potentially resulting in additional distress for caregivers. We aimed to assess the experiences and psychosocial distress of parents during COVID-19 as they relate to the pandemic, waiting for surgery, and the combined effects of both events. The was a cross-sectional qualitative study. Parents with children who faced treatment delays during the initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic for elective, non-emergent procedures across a variety of surgical specialties were recruited. Semi-structured telephone interviews and thematic analysis were utilized. Thematic saturation was reached with eighteen participants. Four themes were identified: coping with COVID-19, distress levels, quality and nature of communication with the surgical team, and the experience of COVID-19 related hospital restrictions. Participants reported varying levels of distress due to the delay in surgery, such as the fear of developmental delay or disease progression for their child. They also indicated their own physical and mental health had been impacted by emotional distress related to both COVID-19 and delays in treatment. Most participants experienced the COVID-19-related hospital restrictions as distressing. This related predominantly to limiting in-hospital caregivers to only one caregiver. Participants were found to have substantial levels of psychosocial distress. Targeted social and emotional support may be helpful in reducing parental distress as the pandemic timeframe continues. Within the limits of individual health systems, reducing restrictions to the number of allowed care givers may help allay distress felt by parents.
| S-EPMC8774209 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundThe uncertainties surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic have been associated with increased parental concern. The aim of this study is to explore if this increased level of concern is associated with certain individual/household characteristics or if parents adapted to the ever-changing realities of the COVID-19 pandemic over time.MethodsThis prospective study explored COVID-19 concern trajectories and associated family characteristics of 765 UK parents caring for an immunosuppressed child during the first 18 months of the pandemic using growth mixture modelling. Qualitative analysis was performed to examine in more detail the source of concern.ResultsFour different trajectories of parental COVID-19 concern were identified. Ongoing very high concern was associated with caring for children with nephrotic or respiratory disease; having a child on an organ transplant waiting list; residency in the North of England; or parental vocational inactivity. Explicit concerns voiced by the parents generally followed national trends, but vulnerable status specific concerns were also reported.ConclusionDiagnosis and prescribed medication of the immunosuppressed child, geographical location, household composition, and employment status of parent were associated with the different concern trajectories. This information can be helpful in targeting psychological family care where it is most needed.ImpactMany British parents caring for a clinically vulnerable child during the first 18 months of the COVID-19 pandemic showed high levels of concern with little sign of psychological adaptation. Consistent with findings from non-vulnerable populations, parents mentioned the impact of shielding and repeated isolation on their child's education, social life, and mental health. Unique to the clinically vulnerable population, parents were worried about child's health status, impact of delayed healthcare, and were confused by the contradictory information received from government, doctors, and media. Psychological family care can be targeted to those parents at greater risk for high levels of concern.
| S-EPMC9684768 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundThere is concern about the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on psychosocial functioning among school-age children, who have faced unusual stressors during this time. Our goal was to assess mental health symptoms and social risks during COVID-19, compared to before the pandemic, for urban, racial and ethnic minority school-age children, and investigate the relationship between mental health and social risks.MethodsWe conducted a cohort study from September 2019 until January 2021 of children age 5-11 years old recruited from an urban safety net hospital-based pediatric primary care practice. We measured emotional and behavioral symptoms (including attention, internalizing, and externalizing symptoms) before and during the pandemic with the Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC-17). We measured social risks (including food and housing insecurity) before and during the pandemic with the THRIVE screener. We measured additional mid-pandemic COVID-related stressors with items on school participation, screens/media use, illness exposure, and caregiver mental health. We compared pre- and mid-pandemic PSC-17 symptom scores across 4 domains (total, attention, internalizing, and externalizing) and used path analysis to examine the relationship between mental health and social risks pre- and mid-pandemic.ResultsCaregivers of 168 children (54% non-Hispanic Black, 29% Hispanic, and 22% non-English speaking) completed the study. Children had significantly higher levels of emotional and behavioral symptoms midpandemic- vs. pre-pandemic in all domains. Significantly more children had a positive PSC-17 total score (18% vs. 8%, p < 0.01) and internalizing (depression and anxiety) score (18% vs. 5%, p < 0.001) during the pandemic vs. before, indicating clinical concerns in these areas. Caregivers reported significantly more social risks during vs. before the pandemic (p < 0.001). Mental health symptoms significantly correlated with number of social risks before the pandemic, but not during the pandemic. Less school assignment completion, increased screen time, and caregiver depression were all significantly associated with worse mid-pandemic mental health in children.ConclusionThe COVID-19 pandemic has led to a dramatic increase in depression/anxiety problems and social risks among urban, racial and ethnic minority school-age children compared to before the pandemic. More research is needed to understand if these changes will persist.
| S-EPMC8637516 | biostudies-literature
Project description:In September 2020, we tested 13,398 persons in Portugal for antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 by using a quota sample stratified by age and population density. We found a seroprevalence of 2.2%, 3-4 times larger than the official number of cases at the end of the first wave of the pandemic.
| S-EPMC8544986 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The COVID-19 pandemic represents a collective trauma that may have enduring stress effects during sensitive periods, such as pregnancy. Prenatal stress may result in epigenetic signatures of stress-related genes (e.g., the serotonin transporter gene, SLC6A4) that may in turn influence infants' behavioral development. In April 2020, we launched a longitudinal cohort study to assess the behavioral and epigenetic vestiges of COVID-19-related prenatal stress exposure in mothers and infants. COVID-19-related prenatal stress was retrospectively assessed at birth. SLC6A4 methylation was assessed in thirteen CpG sites in mothers and infants' buccal cells. Infants' temperament was assessed at 3-month-age. Complete data were available from 108 mother-infant dyads. Greater COVID-19-related prenatal stress was significantly associated with higher infants' SLC6A4 methylation in seven CpG sites. SLC6A4 methylation at these sites predicted infants' temperament at 3 months.
| S-EPMC8329206 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Background and objectivesThe emergence of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the measures implemented to curb its spread may have deleterious effects on mental health. Older adults may be at increased risk for adverse psychosocial outcomes because opportunities to remain socially connected have diminished. Research is needed to better understand the impact of pandemic-related stress on mental health. The purpose of this study is 3-fold: (a) to examine the influences of COVID-19 pandemic-related stress on depression, anxiety, and loneliness; (b) to assess the mediating role of coping style and social support; and (c) to investigate whether these relationships vary across age.Research design and methodsParticipants (N = 1,318) aged 18-92 years completed an online survey assessing pandemic-related stress, mental health, social support, coping, and their experiences with social distancing, during the initial implementation of social distancing measures in the United States.ResultsSocial support and coping style were found to relate to psychosocial outcomes. Avoidant coping was the strongest mediator of the relationship between pandemic-related stress and psychosocial outcomes, particularly depression. Avoidant coping more strongly mediated the relationship between stress and depression in younger adults compared to older adults.Discussion and implicationsResults were consistent with the stress and coping framework and recent work highlighting older adults' resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings highlight the associations between positive coping behaviors and psychosocial well-being and indicate that older adults may use unique adaptive mechanisms to preserve well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic.
| S-EPMC7799081 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The COVID-19 disease has infected many countries, causing generalized impacts on different income categories. We carried out a survey among households (n = 412) representing different income groups in Nigeria. We used validated food insecurity experience and socio-psychologic tools. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The earning capacities of the respondents ranged from 145 USD/month for low-income earners to 1945 USD/month for high-income earners. A total of 173 households (42%) ran out of food during the COVID-19 pandemic. All categories of households experienced increasing dependency on the general public and a perception of increasing insecurity, with the high-income earners experiencing the greatest shift. In addition, increasing levels of anger and irritation were experienced among all categories. Of the socio-demographic variables, only gender, educational level of the household head, work hours per day, and family income based on society class were associated (p < 0.05) with food security and hunger due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although psychological stress was observed to be greater in the low-income earning group, household heads with medium and high family income were more likely to have satisfactory experiences regarding food security and hunger. It is recommended that socio-economic groups should be mapped and support systems should target each group to provide the needed support in terms of health, social, economic, and mental wellness.
| S-EPMC10001712 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ImportanceThe COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the normal course of cancer screening and detection in the US. A nationwide analysis of the extent of this disruption using cancer registry data has not been conducted.ObjectiveTo assess the observed and expected cancer rate trends for March through December 2020 using data from all 50 US states and the District of Columbia.Design, settings, and participantsThis was a population-based cross-sectional analysis of cancer incidence trends using data on cases of invasive cancer diagnosis reported to the US Cancer Statistics from January 1, 2018, through December 31, 2020. Data analyses were performed from July 6 to 28, 2023.Exposure(s)Age, sex, race, urbanicity, and state-level response to the COVID-19 pandemic at the time of cancer diagnosis.Main outcomes and measuresUsed time-series forecasting methods to calculate expected cancer incidence rates for March 1 through December 31, 2020, from prepandemic trends (January 2018-February 2020). Measured relative difference between observed and expected cancer incidence rates and numbers of potentially missed cancer cases.ResultsThis study included 1 297 874 cancer cases reported in the US from March 1 through December 31, 2020, with an age-adjusted incidence rate of 326.5 cases per 100 000 population. Of the observed cases, 657 743 (50.7%) occurred in male patients, 757 106 (58.3%) in persons 65 years or older, and 1 066 566 (82.2%) in White individuals. Observed rates of all-sites cancer incidence in the US were 28.6% (95% prediction interval [PI], 25.4%-31.7%) lower than expected during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic response (March-May 2020); 6.3% (95% PI, 3.8%-8.8%) lower in June to December 2020; and overall, 13.0% (95% PI, 11.2%-14.9%) lower during the first 10 months of the pandemic. These differences indicate that there were potentially 134 395 (95% PI, 112 544-156 680) undiagnosed cancers during that time frame. Prostate cancer accounted for the largest number of potentially missed cases (22 950), followed by female breast (16 870) and lung (16 333) cancers. Screenable cancers saw a total rate reduction of 13.9% (95% PI, 12.2%-15.6%) compared with the expected rate. The rate of female breast cancer showed evidence of recovery to previous trends after the first 3 months of the pandemic, but levels remained low for colorectal, cervical, and lung cancers. From March to May 2020, states with more restrictive COVID-19 responses had significantly greater disruptions, yet by December 2020, these differences were nonsignificant for all sites except lung, kidney, and pancreatic cancer.Conclusions and relevanceThis cross-sectional analysis of cancer incidence trends found a substantial disruption to cancer diagnoses in the US during the first 10 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. The overall and differential findings can be used to inform where the US health care system should be looking to make up ground in cancer screening and detection.
| S-EPMC10884945 | biostudies-literature