Associated Psychological Factors of Viral Load among Self-Isolating Nigerian COVID-19 Patients.

BACKGROUND: Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a pandemic that has affected millions of people worldwide. The aim of this study was to explore the psychological factors of viral load among COVID-19 patients who were on self-isolation in Nigeria. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study involving five hundred and nine self-isolating COVID-19 patients in Osogbo, Nigeria. They completed a socio-demographic questionnaire, Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) questionnaire, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI-7) and Brief Self Rating Scale (BSRS-5). The viral load was inferred from the Cycle threshold (Ct) value. RESULTS: The prevalence of anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, insomnia, and suicidal ideation were 40%, 35.6%, 23%, and 7.3%, respectively. The respondents who had high viral load had significantly higher mean scores compared to those with a low viral load on the anxiety, depression, insomnia, psychological symptoms scales, and suicidal ideation item. There was significant negative correlation between Ct values and the study measures. Only psychological distress and suicidal ideation were the variables that were significantly associated with high viral load. CONCLUSION: There is a need to institute measures for mental health surveillance and psychosocial support among Nigerian COVID-19 patients especially during the period of self-isolation.

CONTEXTE: La maladie du virus de la Corona 2019 (COVID-19) est une pandémie qui a touché des millions de personnes dans le monde. Le but de cette étude était d'explorer les facteurs psychologiques de la charge virale chez les patients COVID-19 en auto-isolement au Nigeria. MÉTHODES: Il s'agit d'une étude transversale impliquant cinq cent neuf patients COVID-19 en auto-isolement au à Osogbo, Nigeria. Ils ont complété un questionnaire sociodémographique sur le trouble anxieux généralisé (GAD-7), le questionnaire sur la santé du patient (PHQ-9), l'indice de gravité de l'insomnie (ISI-7) et l'échelle d'auto évaluation brève (BSRS-5). La charge virale a été déduite de la valeur du seuil de cycle (Ct). RÉSULTATS: La prévalence des symptômes d'anxiété, des symptômes dépressifs, de l'insomnie et du suicide et des idées suicidaires était de 40 %, 35,6 %, 23 % et 7,3 %, respectivement. Les répondants ayant une charge virale élevée avaient des scores moyens significativement plus élevés que ceux qui avaient une faible charge virale sur les échelles d'anxiété, de dépression, d'insomnie, les échelles de symptômes psychologiques et l'item d'idéation suicidaire. Il y avait une corrélation négative significative entre les valeurs de Ct et les mesures de l'étude. Seules la détresse psychologique et l'idéation suicidaire étaient les variables significativement associées à une charge virale élevée. RÉSULTATS: La prévalence des symptômes d'anxiété, des symptômes dépressifs, de l'insomnie et du suicide et des idées suicidaires était de 40 %, 35,6 %, 23 % et 7,3 %, respectivement. Les répondants ayant une charge virale élevée avaient des scores moyens significativement plus élevés que ceux qui avaient une faible charge virale sur les échelles d'anxiété, de dépression, d'insomnie, les échelles de symptômes psychologiques et l'item d'idéation suicidaire. Il y avait une corrélation négative significative entre les valeurs de Ct et les mesures de l'étude. Seules la détresse psychologique et l'idéation suicidaire étaient les variables significativement associées à une charge virale élevée. CONCLUSION: Il est nécessaire d'instituer des mesures de surveillance de surveillance de la santé mentale et de soutien psychosocial parmi les patients de COVID-19 au nigéria en particulier pendant la période d'auto-isolement. Mots clés: Corrélats psychologiques, charge virale, COVID-19, virus Corona, SRAS-CoV-2.

Sociodemographic and psychological correlates of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and resistance in the young adult population in Italy.

BACKGROUND: Previous research has shown that young adults are more hesitant/resistant to COVID-19 vaccine uptake than older age groups, although the factors underlying this tendency are still under debate. The current study aimed to identify the sociodemographic and psychological correlates of vaccine hesitancy and resistance among young adults (18-40 years) during the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Italy, the first country after China being hit by the pandemic and which suffered a large number of fatalities. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional, web-based study conducted in Italy using an ISO-certified international survey company (respondi.com). Data were collected on 1200 participants in June 2021. RESULTS: Vaccine hesitancy/resistance was found for 25% of the sample. In multinomial logistic regression (N = 1159), being aged 30-40 years, residing in northern Italy, having lower educational and income level, being unemployed, and not knowing any friends/relatives diagnosed with COVID-19 were associated with higher odds of hesitancy or resistance. In multivariate analysis of variance (N = 1177), both vaccine hesitant and resistant young adults perceived significantly less social support from friends and family than vaccine accepting ones. Resistant individuals reported significantly higher levels of conspiracy theories and negative attitudes toward vaccines than their accepting and hesitant counterparts. Moreover, resistant individuals reported significantly lower levels of attachment to country and perceptions of a just government compared to accepting ones, with hesitant young adults scoring in between. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the idea that young adults with a hesitant (vs. resistant) attitude show a more nuanced and less extreme psychological profile. Public health messaging should capitalize on social media to provide accessible, transparent, and age-appropriate information concerning COVID-19 vaccine safety. Moreover, policy efforts improving the availability of social support systems are warranted to strengthen connectedness and foster trust in institutions amongst this particular segment of the population.

Early Psychological Correlates Associated With COVID-19 in A Spanish Older Adult Sample.

OBJECTIVE: Main aims of the study are to examine the early psychological correlates associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown on the mental health of a Spanish older adult sample and to analyze the influence of past mental disorder (PMD) and current mental disorder (CMD) on those correlates. METHODS: Cross-sectional study based on an online snowball recruiting questionnaire. Psychological correlates assessed with the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and Impact of Event Scale (IES). Binary and multinomial logistic regression models were used to identify risk and protective factors. RESULTS: Final sample included 2,194 individuals aged 60 years or more (mean age [SD]: 65.62 [5.05]; females: 1,198 [54.6%]). There were 342 (15.6%) individuals who reported a PMD and 162 (7.4%) who reported a CMD. Avoidant (32.1%) and depressive (25.6%) styles were the most prevalent, regardless of mental health status. Main risk factors for negative affectivity were female gender and history CMD or PMD. However, job stability and the ability to enjoy free time were generally associated with better outcomes. No differences were found in psychological correlates between those with no lifetime history of mental disorder versus PMD on the DASS-21 or IES. However, CMD was associated with higher anxiety scores on the DASS-21 (odds ratio: 1.838, p < .001). CONCLUSION: Regardless of mental status, avoidant and depressive styles were the most prevalent in this older adult sample. Main protective factor in all subgroups was the ability to enjoy free time, whereas the main risk factors were being female and current or past history of mental disorder.