Changes in sexual behaviour of male physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Healthcare workers have been affected both physically and mentally during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to investigate the impacts of COVID-19 on the mental health and sexual behaviour of male physicians working during the pandemic. A survey was carried out on male physicians working in Turkey during the pandemic. Participants' sexual behaviours, anxiety symptoms, and depressive symptoms were assessed. The frequency of anxiety and depressive symptoms was 55.9% and 44.1%, respectively. Among the 102 participants, 35.3% reported decreased sexual desire, and 41.2% reported decreased sexual intercourse. Working more, caring for COVID-19 patients, having higher scores for anxiety and depressive symptoms were related to changes in sexual behaviour. High prevalences of anxiety and depressive symptoms and sexual behaviour changes were found among male physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study points out the importance of psychosocial support in health professionals during the pandemic period.

Different reflections of the face mask: sleepiness, headache and psychological symptoms.

Objectives. The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant physical and mental effects on healthcare workers. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between wearing face masks and headache, sleepiness, mood and anxiety symptoms in healthcare workers. Methods. A survey was administered to 365 healthcare workers working during the pandemic. The Beck depression inventory, the Beck anxiety inventory and the Epworth sleepiness scale were used to assess depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms and daytime sleepiness, respectively. Participants were also asked about new-onset headaches. Results. Almost half of the participants (47.6%) reported new-onset headaches, and 23.2% reported excessive daytime sleepiness. The frequencies of depressive and anxiety symptoms were 43.7 and 59.2%, respectively. Sleepiness scores and new-onset headache frequency were higher in women and those using filtering facepiece respirators. A statistically significant positive correlation was found between mask-wearing duration, depressive and anxiety symptom scores, and sleepiness score. Conclusions. The present study has shown that many healthcare workers wearing face masks suffered from sleepiness, headaches and psychological symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings indicate the importance of improving working conditions and planning psychological interventions for healthcare workers.

Being Both a Parent and a Healthcare Worker in the Pandemic: Who Could Be Exhausted More?

(1) Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the living conditions of many people. Many people felt significantly constrained. However, for individuals who are both parents and healthcare professionals, the situation seems more troubling in other ways. (2) Objectives: Based on this, we planned a study evaluating demographic characteristics, COVID-19-related anxiety levels, and parenting-related stress levels of the health care professionals who were working in the University Hospital. We also evaluated the parameters that affect COVID-19-related anxiety and parenting stress. (3) Methods: The level of COVID-19-related anxiety is assessed by the coronavirus anxiety scale. The parenting stress index-short form is used for evaluation of parenting stress. Statistical analysis was done by SPSS version 22. (4) Results: Female gender, working as a nurse, a history of COVID-19, and having a child attending daycare were parameters that increased the level of COVID-19-related anxiety. Occupation, being a parent of a schoolchild and/or primary school child, being a parent of a child receiving face-to-face education, and having more than two children were found to be risk factors for parenting stress. Clinically significant parenting stress was found to increase threefold in healthcare workers with more than two children (R2 = 0.101, p = 0.039). (5) Conclusions: Healthcare professionals, who are also parents, play a huge role both at home and in the hospital in the pandemic. Therefore, it is inevitable that their stress and anxiety levels increase. It is important to determine the factors that cause stress and anxiety and to take measures in this direction to get through this process well.

How have older adults reacted to coronavirus disease 2019?

AIM: Outbreaks have a wide spectrum of psychosocial impact on individuals. This study aimed to investigate the psychosocial effects of measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus disease on older adults in Turkey. METHODS: A survey was conducted of 104 adults who had to stay at home during the pandemic. Participants' depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, nutritional status, health-related quality of life, and sleep quality were assessed. RESULTS: The frequency of depressive and anxiety symptoms was 37.5% and 29.8%, respectively. The frequency of depressive symptoms was higher in women, individuals age ≥85 years, and those with less education and low monthly income. Anxiety symptom frequency was also higher in women and those with less education and low monthly income. Quality of life and sleep were worse in those with depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first published study to investigate the effect of a pandemic on the mood, anxiety symptoms, nutrition status, quality of life, and sleep of older adults during the pandemic period. Our findings indicate the importance of psychosocial support in older individuals during and after the pandemic period.