Associations of psychological inflexibility with posttraumatic stress disorder and adherence to COVID-19 control measures among refugees in Uganda: The moderating role of coping strategies.

Refugees are vulnerable to developing mental health problems. The unprecedented appearance and rapid spread of COVID-19 exacerbated this vulnerability, especially in low-income countries where refugees survive on humanitarian aid and live in congested settlements. These appalling living conditions are a stressor, making adherence to COVID-19 control measures impractical and an additional psychological strain for refugees. The present study examined how psychological inflexibility is associated with adherence to COVID-19 control measures. A sample of 352 refugees from Kampala City and Bidibidi settlements were recruited. Refugees with high levels of psychological inflexibility reported higher PTSD symptom severity and low adherence to COVID-19 control measures. Moreover, PTSD severity mediated the association between psychological inflexibility and adherence, while avoidance coping moderated both direct and indirect effects. Interventions for reducing psychological inflexibility and avoidance coping may be essential in boosting adherence to measures relevant to the current and future status of the pandemic, along with other crises that refugees face.

Coping Strategies used by Health Care Workers to Cope with Psychological Distress at NSCB Medical College, Jabalpur, during the COVID-19 Outbreak

Background: COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019), which is spreading domestically and internationally and has had a significant impact on the world, was first reported in December 2019 in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. Following the worldwide emergency of COVID-19, health care workers faced several issues, including an increase in workload. Many of them became infected and died as a result of close contact with COVID-19 patients. The continuing epidemic of COVID-19 is inducing fear, anxiety, and fatigue in them, and there's an urgent need to determine their mental health status. Aim(s): To assess the psychological distress and identify various coping strategies among the health care workers Methods: One hundred seventy health worker were selected. Following the candidates' informed consent, information about their socio-demographics and COVID-19 duties was gathered in a semistructured performa. All selected health care workers were assessed for psychological distress with the help of the General Health Questionnaire-12 and The coping strategies were measured by a brief cope questionnaire. Result(s): The mean score on GHQ-12 scale was 13.69(SD= 6.26) indicating that the professionals' mental health was poor condition. The most frequently used coping strategies were Emotion Focused Coping, followed by Problem Focused Coping. Meanwhile, the least used coping strategies were Avoidant Coping. Conclusion(s): Health-care professionals reported poor mental health during covid-19 outbreak and majority of professionals coped with adaptive coping strategies in this adverse situation.

To Compare The Coping Strategies, Emotional Reactions, Burnout And Resilience In Doctors Caring And Not Caring For Covid19 Patients

Background: Rapid transmission of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) causing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV- 2) occurred all across the world in few months causing a pandemic. Frontline medical staff as a result of heavy workload, insufficient protective equipment, a lack of information of the pathogen, and direct contact with patients faced the fear of getting infected themselves and their family. Anxiety, stress, and other negative emotions have led to a series of psychological crises in them. Aim(s): To compare the coping strategies, emotional reactions, burnout and resilience in doctors caring and not caring for COVID19 patients. Materials And Methods: Total 304 Doctors in tertiary care hospitals out of which 163 were caring and 141 were not caring for COVID19 patients participated in our study. Both groups were assessing and compared using The Fear of COVID-19 Scale, the coronavirus anxiety scale (CAS), Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2), Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5 (PC-PTSD-5), Brief COPE, Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale abbreviated, Abbreviated Maslach Burnout Inventory, Two-Item Conjoint Screen (TICS) Results: All participants those who did COVID duty and those who did not do it showed high level of resilience though on comparison no significant different was found between two groups. Those who did not do COVID duty were scored higher in emotion focused coping strategies whereas who did not do COVID duty scored higher in avoidant coping strategies. Abbreviated version of Maslach Burnout Inventory indicated a great personal accomplishment, less depersonalization and low emotional exhaustion in all the participants irrespective of their duty status. Conclusion(s): On comparing those who did COVID duties against those who haven't, it was found that those who did not do COVID duty used more emotion-focused ways to cope and those who were doing COVID duties were using harmful avoidant coping to manage their daily chores. All the doctors participating in study showed high resilience irrespective of whether they did COVID duty or not.Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications. All rights reserved.

Psychological Capital and Quality of life of Refugees in Uganda During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Serial Mediation Model.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has in the past two years caused and continues to cause enormous effects on lifestyle, mental health, and quality of life. With no known treatment and vaccination, behavioral control measures became central in controlling the pandemic. However, the intensity of the pandemic and the stringent control measures were immensely stressful. The control measures became an added psychological burden to people living in precarious situations such as refugees in low-income countries. Purpose: Given the benefits of psychological capital, the present study aimed at investigating the role of psychological capital in enhancing the quality of life among refugees in Uganda during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was hypothesized that the effects of psychological capital on quality of life are serially mediated through coping strategies, adherence to COVID-19 control measures, and mental health. Methods: Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire in July and August 2020 after the first lockdown. Participants were 353 South Sudanese and Somali refugees living in Kampala city suburbs and Bidibidi refugee settlement. Findings: Psychological capital was positively associated with approach coping, mental health, and quality of life. However, psychological capital was negatively associated with adherence to COVID-19 control measures. Significant indirect effects of psychological capital on quality of life through approach coping, mental health, and adherence were found. However, serial mediation effects were only substantial via approach coping and mental health. Conclusion: Psychological capital is an important resource in coping with the challenges posed by COVID-19 and maintaining a good level of psychological functioning and quality of life. Preserving and boosting psychological capital is essential in responding to COVID-19 and other related disasters and crises, which are common in vulnerable populations such as refugee communities in low-income countries.

Anxiety, depression and stress among female medical students during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and their association with family functioning, coping and personality

Background and Aims: This research examined anxiety, depression, and stress levels in female medical students during the second wave of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the association between these variables and family functioning, coping, and personality factors. Material(s) and Method(s): The cross-sectional online observational study was conducted using Google Forms. Anxiety, depression, and stress were assessed using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), family functioning using Family Adaptability, Partnership, Growth, Affection, and Resolve, coping using Brief COPE, and personality using the Big Five Inventory 10-item version. Result(s): Out of 750 students, 500 thoroughly responded to the online survey. Based on the DASS-21 scores, 57.6% of participants had some stress, 63.4% had some anxiety, and 54.8% had some degree of depression. Anxiety, depression, and stress were highly correlated with each other. Stress, anxiety, and depression were weakly linked with problem-focused coping, moderately correlated with emotion-focused coping, and strongly correlated with avoidant coping. Better family functioning was associated with lesser self-reported stress, anxiety, and depression. Neuroticism was associated with higher anxiety, depression, and stress, while agreeableness and conscientiousness were with lower psychological distress. Conclusion(s): High level of psychological suffering was prevalent among medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their anxiety, depression, and stress must be adequately managed. Copyright © 2023 Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications. All rights reserved.

Mental Health Status, Coping Strategies During Covid-19 Pandemic Among Undergraduate Students of Healthcare Profession.

The present study aimed to assess the prevalence of psychological distress, associated lifestyle behaviors, and associated coping strategies among the students of healthcare profession. A total of 588 medical, dental, and nursing students studying in institutes of health sciences, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, India participated in this cross-sectional online survey during September-October, 2020. A semi-structured questionnaire, DASS-21questionnaire, and Brief COPE were used to collect relevant information. The proportion of students experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress was 26.2%, 27.7%, and 9.7%, respectively. Body mass index, presence of comorbidity, and soft drink consumption were significantly associated with psychological distress. Students experiencing psychological distress were applying emotion-focused coping behaviors (venting, acceptance, self-blame, substance use, religion) and avoidant coping behaviors (self-distraction, behavioral disengagement, denial). The prevalence of psychological distress among the students of health profession studying in KIIT University of Bhubaneswar during the period of Covid-19 pandemic is low and it can be further lowered by designing appropriate interventions incorporating healthy lifestyle behaviors and suitable coping strategies thereby ensuring sound mental health of these students.

Job stress and depression among Malaysian anti-drug professionals: The moderating role of job-related coping strategies.

Depression can cause negative consequences to workers' health and social functioning, such as poor work productivity, mental disorders, and suicide. Existing studies have argued that job stress is closely related to depression in many professions. Yet, information on how coping strategies play a significant role in the relationships among Malaysian anti-drug professionals is still scarce. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine to what extent coping strategies moderate the relationship between job stress and depression among Malaysian anti-drug professionals. A total of 3,356 National Antidrug Agency (NADA) officers aged between 21 and 59 years completed online self-report measures of depression, job stress, and job-related control coping and avoidant coping behaviors. The results showed that job stress was strongly correlated with depression, and both coping strategies were found to significantly moderate the correlations. The correlations between stress and depression were stronger among participants who had higher levels of avoidant coping or those who had lower levels of control coping. To conclude, this study highlights the importance of considering job stress and coping behaviors to understand anti-drug professionals' mental health during this challenging COVID-19 pandemic.

The Moderating Roles of Resilience and Coping Strategy on Well-Being of Victimized Forensic Workers.

Previous research on workplace victimization has often disregarded forensic psychiatric populations and not yet been extended to the coronavirus pandemic. The present study expected the isolation of the government-issued lockdown to increase aggressive behavior in forensic patients, ultimately decreasing the general well-being of victimized forensic workers. Possible buffering protective factors (resilience and active coping) and enhancing risk factors (avoidant coping and passive coping) were investigated with the intention of optimizing the general well-being of at-risk forensic workers. The valid sample (N = 311) consisted of Dutch and Belgian forensic workers (74.6% females) with at least 9 hours of weekly patient contact, and with a mean age of 37.99 (SD = 12.20). Participants reported the number of violent incidents in the past 2 months, as well as completed a questionnaire battery including measures of well-being, resilience, and coping strategies. A significant increase of victimization during the lockdown compared to after it was lifted was found, however, the study did not find evidence to support that this negatively influenced the worker's general well-being. Active coping was found to be a significant moderator and protective factor for the general well-being of victimized forensic workers. In contrast, resilience, avoidant and passive coping were not significant moderators in this association. The present study has valuable clinical implications that could lead to preparatory and preventative measures for forensic workers at risk of being victimized. Future research may investigate constructs such as life satisfaction and post-traumatic growth, as well as be broadened into prison populations.

Male-Type Depression Mediates the Relationship between Avoidant Coping and Suicidal Ideation in Men.

Despite known links between men's avoidant coping behaviours (e.g., distraction, denial, substance use) and suicide risk, little research has explored the mechanisms underpinning this relationship. This study sought to examine whether male-type depression symptoms (e.g., anger, aggression, emotion suppression), assessed by the Male Depression Risk Scale, mediate the association between avoidant coping and suicide/self-harm ideation in men. Data were drawn from an online survey of a community sample of 606 Australian men (M age = 50.11 years; SD = 15.00), conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mediation analyses were applied to examine the effect of male-type depression on the association between avoidant coping and suicidal/self-harm ideation, controlling for age, resilience and the experience of two psychosocial stressors during the COVID-19 pandemic (financial stress and government restrictions). Avoidant coping was associated with suicidal/self-harm ideation, r = 0.45, p < 0.001. Results supported a mediating role of male-type depression symptoms in this relationship, R2= 0.29, PM = 0.36, p < 0.001, underscoring the importance of screening for male-type depression symptoms to better identify men at risk of suicidal/self-harm ideation. Results also suggest a need to support men to develop effective coping strategies, particularly in the context of common psychosocial stressors experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

EFFECT OF ACE AND COPING ON COVID SELF-EFFICACY

It is well established that exposure to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) can have a profound negative impact on physical and mental health and other health-related processes (e.g. decision making;Chang et al. 2019). Research has also indicated that individual differences in coping styles represent one pathway through which exposure to ACEs can confer risk for negative health outcomes (Sheffler et al. 2019). It is less clear however, whether the negative effects of exposure to ACEs extend also to one's self-efficacy for preventing and overcoming COVID-19. The current study aimed to examine the relationship between ACEs, measured as the total number of adverse childhood experiences endorsed on the Adverse Childhood Experiences Scale, and self-efficacy for preventing and overcoming COVID-19, measured using a modified version of the Self-Efficacy for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. In addition, we examined whether the use of avoidant coping strategies (denial, venting, and behavioral disengagement) derived from a principal components analysis of the Brief Coping Questionnaire, statistically mediated the association between ACE scores and COVID-19 self-efficacy. Young adults (N = 86, Mage = 23.6;69% female;34% Asian, 33% white, 23% Latinx, 8% Mixed Race, 2% Black or African American) completed measures as part of a larger study. A series of linear regression analyses indicated that both exposure to a greater number of ACEs (β = -.23, p = .033) and greater use of avoidant coping strategies (β = -.36, p < .001) were associated with lower COVID-19 self-efficacy. On the other hand, ACE scores did not significantly predict the use of avoidant coping strategies (β = .09, p = .41) and when entered into a model simultaneously, both ACEs (β = -.20, p = .049) and coping (β = -.34, p = .001) remained significant predictors of COVID-19 self-efficacy. These results indicate that ACE scores and the use of avoidant coping strategies independently affect COVID-19 self-efficacy, and confirm that the negative health effects of ACEs extend also to perceptions of ability to prevent and overcome COVID-19.

RELATIONSHIP OF EMOTIONS, SOCIAL ISOLATION, AND COVID-RELATED MEDIA TO SUBJECTIVE SLEEP QUALITY DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic safety restrictions led to changes in social interactions and information seeking about the virus. For some, these led to increased negative emotions, feelings of social isolation, and increased COVID-related media consumption. We examined the relationship of these variables to subjective sleep quality from participant daily diaries kept early in the pandemic. Methods: From April 20th-May 12th, 2020, college (students, faculty/ staff, alumni, parents) and local (churches, community centers, libraries) community members (N=94, 72 women, ages 18-77) completed a 30-minute survey for before and during social distancing (measuring: mental health, personality, social distancing, and demographics) for possible prizes. Participants then completed daily evening and morning diaries for 5-14 days describing daily affect, social isolation, emotion regulation, COVID media consumption, and subjective sleep quality. Results: Emotions: During the pandemic, poor sleep quality was predicted by less positive mood (r(91)=.486, p<.001) and more negative mood (r(91)=-.433, p<.001). Participants with poorer sleep quality reported less success regulating their emotions that day (r(90)=.292, p=.005) and greater suppression of emotions (rather than cognitive reappraisals to regulate them) (r(91)=-.260, p=.012). Social Isolation: Subjective sleep quality was not predicted by social distancing behaviors (r(88)=.069, p>.05);however, poorer sleep quality was significantly predicted by greater daily feelings of social isolation (r(91)=-.264, p=.005) and lower feelings of social life satisfaction (r(91)=.338, p<.001). COVID-related media: Sleep quality was not significantly related to COVID-media consumption for all participants;however, moderation analyses showed that participants with low avoidance coping, low neuroticism, and high emotional well-being did experience poorer sleep quality associated with greater COVID media consumption (all p's<.05). Conclusion: That mood and social isolation are associated with sleep quality replicates previous findings. The pandemic, however, provided a unique opportunity to observe these relationships in individuals not normally socially isolated because of confounding variables (e.g., health issues, depression, anxiety) with known relationships to sleep quality. That COVID-related media was only related to sleep quality for more well-adjusted participants (low avoidance coping, low neuroticism, high emotional well-being) was surprising, suggesting some may find COVID-19 information anxiety-relieving rather than anxiety-provoking.

Psychological impact and coping strategies in peruvian adults during the Covid-19 pandemic

Objective: To analyze the psychological impact and coping strategies in Peruvian adults during the Covid-19 pandemic. Methods: A qualitative study was developed with 6 males and 4 women, compiled through a semi-structured interview guide. Results: The most stressful situations for peruvian adults were their health vulnerability, the limitation of their freedoms, labor and economic changes, and family conflicts. The psychological impact on them was expressed through emotional distress, physiological, somatic and cognitive changes. And, they used selfcare, compliance with health measures, relaxation, relaxation and entertainment as coping strategies, as well as the reassessment of the situation. Conclusions: The pandemic and compulsory social confinement caused a psychological impact on peruvian adults and they have used active and avoidant coping strategies functional to the context.

Diabetes self-management during the covid-19 pandemic and its associations with covid-19 anxiety syndrome, depression, and health anxiety

Objective: The effects of the covid-19 pandemic on mental health have been profound. There is a complex bi-directional relationship between mental health and diabetes self-care. We examined whether covid-19 anxiety syndrome, depression and health anxiety predicted domains of diabetes self-management and investigated whether greater covid-19 anxiety syndrome would independently contribute to poorer diabetes self-care. Methods: We sent surveys to patients attending a London hospital diabetes clinic. Participants (n = 369, mean age 50.5 years, 52.9% female) completed the diabetes self-management questionnaire (DSMQ), the covid-19 anxiety syndrome scale (C-19ASS), which measures perseveration and avoidant maladaptive coping behaviour, assessed with measures of co-existent depression and health anxiety, controlling for age, gender, and social deprivation. Clinical data including pre-and post-lockdown HbA1c measures were obtained from hospital records. Results: Depression scores were much higher than pre-pandemic reports, although the prevalence of covid-19 anxiety syndrome was not higher than measured elsewhere. Both pre-existing health anxiety and depression independently predicted poorer measures of diabetes care, as did lower socioeconomic rank. However, avoidant covid-19 anxiety responses were independently associated with higher diabetes self-care scores. HbA1c levels improved significantly over the UK lockdown in our cohort (p < 0.001). Conclusion: During the height of lockdown our research suggests that avoidant coping behaviours characteristic of the covid-19 anxiety syndrome could work to improve diabetes self-care, at least in the short term. We recommend screening for depression, and we should be aware of the significant minority of patients with covid-19 anxiety syndrome who may now find it difficult to re-engage with face-to- face clinic opportunities.

Mental health and coping during COVID-19 among cancer patients and survivors

Background and Purpose: Until a vaccine is widely available, adherence to COVID-19 preventive behaviors is the most effective way to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. While there is a general paucity of information on COVID-19 infection and its impact on cancer patients, immunocompromised individuals, such as cancer patients, are likely at greater risk for both COVID-19 morbidity and mortality. In addition, a cancer diagnosis can cause stress, anxiety, depression, psychological distress, and poor quality of life. While the recommendations for COVID-19 parallel the common recommendations for managing infection risk, the enhanced social isolation and limited social distancing can be even more difficult for patients resulting in increased risk for psychological distress and deteriorations in health outcomes. Depressive disorders frequently result in substantial functional impairment, as well as increased emotional, economic, and productivity costs. It is important to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic impacts psychological and psychosocial factors, as well as health behaviors of cancer patients and survivors, and how various contextual factors may play risk and protective roles. The purpose of this study, therefore, is to determine differences in stress, mental health and coping behaviors, and adherence to COVID-19 preventive behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic among three groups of adults (in active cancer treatment, cancer survivors, and those without a history of cancer). This study focuses on determining how sociodemographic characteristics and cancer status influence COVID-19 mental health/coping mechanisms, as well as how mental health/coping mechanisms and cancer status may predict adherence to preventive COVID-19 behaviors. Methods: Panel survey firm Qualtrics was used to administer an online survey among 897 U.S. adults in May of 2020. Quota sampling was utilized to ensure a sample consisting of approximately one-third: cancer patients currently in treatment (32.0%, n = 287), cancer survivors not currently in treatment (33.6%, n=301), and respondents with no cancer history (34.4%, n = 309). Survey items assessed demographic variables, depression, coping, and adherence to COVID-19 preventive behaviors. Results and Discussion: Preliminary analyses show that cancer patients report higher levels of depressive symptoms than survivors and the control group. In addition, cancer patients in active treatment use both avoidance and approach-focused coping more frequently than both survivors and the control group. Regression analyses show that avoidance coping predicts lower adherence to COVID-19 preventive behaviors, while approach-focused coping predicts higher adherence. Analyses are ongoing.

Family Communication and Psychological Distress in the Era of COVID-19 Pandemic: Mediating Role of Coping.

This study aims to examine the association between family communication and psychological distress with coping as a potential mediator. The study also developed and validated the Family Communication Scale (FCS) in the context of COVID-19 pandemic. Participants (n = 658; 74.9% female) were general public ranged in age between 18 and 58 years (mean age = 26.38, SD = 10.01). The results showed that family communication directly influenced psychological distress and indirectly influenced through approach coping. However, avoidant coping was not directly associated with psychological distress, nor did it mediate the association between family communication and psychological distress. The findings suggest that people, who have better family communication, highly engage in approach coping which in turn leads to better psychological health in face of adversity. The findings have important empirical and theoretical implications.