International journal of environmental research and public health
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Int J Environ Res Public Health · Dec 2020
Change in Physical Activity, Sleep Quality, and Psychosocial Variables during COVID-19 Lockdown: Evidence from the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936.
(1) Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected the lives of older people. In this study, we examine changes in physical activity, sleep quality, and psychosocial variables among older people during COVID-19 lockdown. We build on cross-sectional studies on this topic by assessing change longitudinally. ⋯ They completed the same questionnaires assessing physical activity, sleep quality, mental wellbeing, social support, loneliness, neighbourhood cohesion, and memory problems before (mostly 2 years earlier) and again during national lockdown. (3) Results: On average, levels of physical activity were reduced (those doing minimal physical activity increased from 10% to 19%) and perceived social support increased during lockdown (effect size drm = 0.178). More positive change in the psychosocial and behavioural outcome variables during lockdown was associated with personality traits (greater intellect, emotional stability, and extraversion) and having a higher general cognitive ability. Participants with a history of cardiovascular disease, more symptoms of anxiety, or who lived alone were more likely to experience negative changes in the outcome variables during lockdown. (4) Discussion: These results provide further insight into the experiences of older people during the COVID-19 pandemic and could help to identify those at greatest risk of negative psychosocial or behavioural changes during this time.
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Int J Environ Res Public Health · Dec 2020
Case ReportsUnderstanding South Korea's Response to the COVID-19 Outbreak: A Real-Time Analysis.
This case study focuses on the epidemiological situation of the COVID-19 outbreak, its impacts and the measures South Korea undertook during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the first case was confirmed on 20 January 2020, South Korea has been actively experiencing the COVID-19 outbreak. In the early stage of the pandemic, South Korea was one of the most-affected countries because of a large outbreak related to meetings of a religious movement, namely the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, in a city called Daegu and North Gyeongsang province. ⋯ Moreover, it was believed that the outbreak of COVID-19 and the governmental responses towards it has brought a huge impact on the general election in April. Despite of the large outbreak in late February, the Korean government has flattened the COVID-19 curve successfully and the downward trend in the number of new cases remained continuously as of 30 April. The most distinctive feature of South Korea's responses is that South Korea conducted proactive case finding, contacts tracing, and isolations of cases instead of taking traditional measures of the containment of the epidemic such as boarder closures and lockdowns.
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Int J Environ Res Public Health · Dec 2020
Quality of Working Life, Psychosocial Factors, Burnout Syndrome and Emotional Intelligence.
The objective of this work is to study the quality of working life associated to psychosocial factors and risks, burnout syndrome and emotional intelligence, as well as being able to detect predictors of the said syndrome. The sample consisted of 311 professionals working in direct contact with an intellectual disability from 15 associations of Extremadura (Spain). The Spanish version of the CESQT questionnaire was administered to evaluate burnout syndrome, the Wong & Law Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEIS) was used to evaluate emotional intelligence, while the UNIPSICO Battery was used to evaluate the psychosocial factors of demands (work-family conflict and psychosomatic problems) and resources, such as social support and work satisfaction. ⋯ Satisfaction at work, social support, and emotional intelligence (intrapersonal and interpersonal perception, use and regulation of emotions) predict burnout syndrome. What is more, the psychosomatic symptoms and work-family conflict explain, respectively, 17% and 17.9% of their variance. Thus, there is a need to develop intervention programs that encourage social support and the conciliation of family life, as well as training skills related to emotional intelligence, such as communication and conflict resolution.
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Int J Environ Res Public Health · Dec 2020
Mental Health of Parents of Special Needs Children in China during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
We assessed the mental health of parents (N = 1450, Mage = 40.76) of special needs children during the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted an online survey comprising items on demographic data; two self-designed questionnaires (children's behavioral problems/psychological demand of parents during COVID-19); and four standardized questionnaires, including the General Health Questionnaire, Perceived Social Support, Parenting Stress Index, and Neuroticism Extraversion Openness Five Factor Inventory. The results showed that there were significant differences among parents of children with different challenges. ⋯ Parent-child dysfunctional interactions and parenting distress were associated with parents of children with autism spectrum disorder. Family support, having a difficult child, and parenting distress were associated with having children with an intellectual disability. It is necessary to pay attention to the parents' mental health, provide more social and family support, and reduce parenting pressures.
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Int J Environ Res Public Health · Dec 2020
The Psychological Impact of 'Mild Lockdown' in Japan during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Nationwide Survey under a Declared State of Emergency.
This study examined the psychological distress caused by non-coercive lockdown (mild lockdown) in Japan. An online survey was conducted with 11,333 people (52.4% females; mean age = 46.3 ± 14.6 years, range = 18-89 years) during the mild lockdown in the seven prefectures most affected by COVID-19 infection. Over one-third (36.6%) of participants experienced mild-to-moderate psychological distress (Kessler Psychological Distress Scale [K6] score 5-12), while 11.5% reported serious psychological distress (K6 score ≥ 13). ⋯ Psychological distress severity was influenced by specific interactional structures of risk factors: high loneliness, poor interpersonal relationships, COVID-19-related sleeplessness and anxiety, deterioration of household economy, and work and academic difficulties. Even when non-coercive lockdowns are implemented, people's mental health should be considered, and policies to prevent mental health deterioration are needed. Cross-disciplinary public-private sector efforts tailored to each individual's problem structure are important to address the mental health issues arising from lockdown.