ABSTRACT
Aims: For many adults their role as a parent is a vital part of their lives. This role may influence their HRQOL and vary with the age of their child. The aim of the present study was to describe and compare sociodemographic and psychological factors, pain and HRQOL in parents of adolescents assessed at baseline and 2 years later, and to quantify possible impact of gender, sociodemographic and psychological factors and pain on changes in HRQOL over time. Method(s): We used data collected at T1 (baseline), when the adolescents were 14-15 years (November 2018-April 2019) and T2 (January-February 2021), when the adolescents were 16-17 years, and the COVID-19 pandemic ongoing. Data on sociodemographic, self-efficacy, self-esteem, pain, loneliness and stress were collected. HRQOL was assessed using RAND-36. Data were analyzed using McNemar tests, paired samples t-tests, and multiple linear regression analyses. Result(s): Among the 309 parents from the general Norwegian population with valid responses at both T1 and T2, 262 (82%) were mothers and 57 (18%) fathers. At T1 the mean age was 45 (SD = 5) years, 81% were married/cohabiting, 75% worked full-time and 57% had university education>4 years. From T1 to T2 the average pain score increased, 1.6 (1.8) vs 1.8 (1.9), p = 0.019, the pain interference emotion score increased (1.6 (1.9) vs. 1.8 (2.2), p = 0.007, a large proportion reported pain duration>3 months, 44% vs 50%, p = 0.014, the parents were more lonely, 12.8 (4.2) vs. 13.7 (4.3), p<0.001, and reported lower RAND-36 mental component summary (MCS) score, 52.2 (8.2) vs. 50.9 (9.7), p = 0.008. There were no significant changes in physical component summary (PCS) score. A positive change in MCS was associated with working part time (B = 5.22 (95% CI [1.05, 9.38)]) and full time (B = 3.64 (95% CI [-0.21, 7.48])) (ref no paid work) and older age (B = 0.24, (95% CI [-001, 0.42]), a negative change by stress (B = -17.39, (95% CI [-27.42, -7.51]). Conclusion(s): Over a 2-year period, and 1 year into the COVID-19 pandemic, parents of adolescents from the general population reported more pain and pain interference, were lonelier and experienced decreased mental HRQOL.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant disruptions in the implementation of programs across educational institutions. Nursing students, being both young adults and by practical training, part of the health care system, may be particularly vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study was to explore the associations between self-reported fear of COVID-19, general health, psychological distress and overall quality of life (QoL) in a sample of Norwegian baccalaureate nursing students compared to reference data. METHODS: The survey targeted baccalaureate nursing students from five universities in February 2021. An electronic questionnaire consisted of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S), the Hopkins Symptom Checklist 5 (SCL-5), one general health and one overall QoL question. The respondents' mean scores were compared to reference data. Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted, and effect sizes (Cohen's d) were evaluated. RESULTS: In total, 2605 out of 6088 (43%) students responded. Their FCV-19S scores (mean 2.45, CI 2.42, 2.48) were significantly higher than those of the reference population (mean 1.8, P < 0.001). Nursing students scores showed significantly lower general health (mean 3.50 ± 0.93 SD, population mean = 3.57, Cohen's d = 0.07), higher levels of psychological distress (mean 2.68 ± 1.03 SD, population mean = 2.12, Cohen's d = 0.55) and lower overall QoL (mean 5.50 ± 2.16 SD, population mean = 8.00, Cohen's d = 1.16) compared to pre-pandemic reference data. FCV-19S scores were significantly associated with levels of general health (Cohen's d = 0.26), psychological distress (Cohen's d = 0.76) and overall QoL (Cohen's d = 0.18). CONCLUSIONS: Baccalaureate nursing students reported worse outcomes during the Covid-19 pandemic on general health, psychological distress and overall QoL compared to the reference population. Level of fear of Covid-19, however, accounted for few of these differences. Other factors related to the pandemic may have reduced nursing students' overall QoL.