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The Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health across Diverse Populations
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The Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health across Diverse Populations

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032). This special issue belongs to the section "Coronaviruses (CoV) and COVID-19 Pandemic".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024 | Viewed by 4201

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Mateusz Cybulski

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Integrated Medical Care, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-096 Bialystok, Poland
Interests: mental health; psychogeriatrics; depression; older adults; geriatrics; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; fear; anxiety
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Mental health and emotion-related issues are now among the most important public health issues around the world. Among the reasons for this is the COVID-19 pandemic, primarily due to fear of infection or death due to the disease. Research has shown that social distancing, self-isolation, quarantine and misinformation (especially on social media) are some of the main factors causing unusual sadness, fear, frustration, helplessness, loneliness and nervousness. In extreme cases, these factors can trigger suicidal thoughts and attempts, and in some cases actually end in suicide.

We are pleased to invite clinicians and researchers to provide reviews on mental health problems occurring in various cohorts and groups, including the general population, medical staff, students, older adults, pregnant women and other vulnerable groups.

We encourage the submission of original research papers (both qualitative and quantitative), reviews, meta-analyses and case studies that contribute new knowledge in this area. Interventional studies, trials and epidemiological studies are also encouraged. The focus may include a specific population.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Mateusz Cybulski
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • mental health
  • depression
  • COVID-19
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • fear
  • anxiety

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 982 KiB  
Article
Balance and Health-Related Quality of Life After 1 Year of COVID-19 Social Restriction Measures: A Cross-Sectional Study in Two Samples from Spain
by Elisabet Huertas-Hoyas, Cristina Rodríguez-Rivas, Mª Pilar Rodríguez-Pérez, María García-de-Miguel, Nuria Trugeda-Pedrajo, Laura Delgado-Lobete, Gemma Fernández-Gómez and Lucía Rocío Camacho-Montaño
Healthcare 2024, 12(21), 2164; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12212164 - 30 Oct 2024
Viewed by 135
Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the well-being of the general population. However, more information is needed regarding the relationship between participation-related outcomes. This study aimed to analyze the impact of the pandemic on occupational balance (OB) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) [...] Read more.
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the well-being of the general population. However, more information is needed regarding the relationship between participation-related outcomes. This study aimed to analyze the impact of the pandemic on occupational balance (OB) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) before and after social restrictions and to explore their relationship with COVID-19 diagnosis. Methods: We conducted a study among individuals diagnosed with COVID-19, assigning a healthy control group with the same sociodemographic characteristics using the EQ-5D-5L and the Occupational Balance Questionnaire (OBQ). Results: The final sample size consisted of 61 participants in the COVID-19 diagnosis group (50.8% male; mean age 34.6 ± 14.17 years) and 57 healthy participants (50.8% male; mean age 33.7 ± 13.77 years). There were no differences in the sociodemographic variables between the groups. Significant differences were found between groups both before the pandemic and 1 year after confinement measures in HRQoL and OBQ (p < 0.005). The regression model indicated significant associations (p < 0.001) between HRQoL and both current OB and COVID-19 diagnosis. However, the OBQ scores from before the pandemic did not show a significant association with HRQoL (p = 0.336). Conclusions: In conclusion, social restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted HRQoL in our sample even 1 year after confinement, with COVID-19 diagnosis and occupational imbalance predicting worse outcomes, highlighting the need for targeted interventions not only for the current situation but also for possible future public health crises. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health across Diverse Populations)
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11 pages, 227 KiB  
Article
An Assessment of Mental Health Challenges of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender College Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic
by Lei Xu, H. Daniel Xu, Wenhua Lu and Divya Talwar
Healthcare 2024, 12(20), 2047; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12202047 - 16 Oct 2024
Viewed by 595
Abstract
Introduction: Collegiate mental health continues to be a worrisome public health concern among college students in the U.S. The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic has caused an upward trend of mental health crises, especially among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ+) college students. The objective [...] Read more.
Introduction: Collegiate mental health continues to be a worrisome public health concern among college students in the U.S. The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic has caused an upward trend of mental health crises, especially among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ+) college students. The objective of this study was to assess the mental health statuses, attitudes towards disease control and mitigation measures, and coping strategies among this vulnerable group. Methods: A web-based survey was conducted at a medium-sized public university in the mid-Atlantic region during the summer and fall of 2021 when COVID-19 was still a major public health concern. The survey was distributed through the listservs of the college and was advertised through campus-wide social media. Descriptive and inferential statistics including a t-test for the differences in group means and a logit regression model for comparing the groups were used. Results: Our final sample is composed of 611 students with 79% of the respondents identifying as straight, and 20% in the LGBTQ+ group. Our results showed that LGBTQ+ students exhibited higher levels of anxiety and fear compared to the non-LGBTQ+ groups. Also, a large proportion of LGBTQ+ students were negatively impacted by the pandemic as compared to the non-LGBTQ+ groups (p = 0.05), while they generally have more positive views on the public health measures to alleviate the adverse impacts from COVID-19 (p = 0.001). Conclusions: Public health emergency management should adopt appropriate strategies and adapt their services to support the mental health needs of LGBTQ+ students. Our study highlighted the need to design tailored health promotion programs and enhance support systems for LGBTQ+ college students during similar emergencies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health across Diverse Populations)
17 pages, 340 KiB  
Article
Factors Associated with Older People’s Anxiety Symptom Positioning after COVID-19: Cross-Sectional Findings from a Canadian Sample
by Gail Low, Anila Naz AliSher, Juceli Morero, Zhiwei Gao, Gloria Gutman, Alex Franca and Sofia von Humboldt
Healthcare 2024, 12(18), 1837; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12181837 - 13 Sep 2024
Viewed by 670
Abstract
This study sheds light on the personal characteristics of older Canadians self-identifying as severely anxious and the coping strategies that they gravitated to mitigate their anxiety. Our studied sample consisted of 606 Canadians aged 60 and above who took part in an e-survey [...] Read more.
This study sheds light on the personal characteristics of older Canadians self-identifying as severely anxious and the coping strategies that they gravitated to mitigate their anxiety. Our studied sample consisted of 606 Canadians aged 60 and above who took part in an e-survey across all 10 of Canada’s provinces, launched in July 2022, when social distancing was lifted across the country. Participants completed a personal characteristics questionnaire, the Geriatric Anxiety Scale or GAS-10, and a checklist of everyday coping strategies for mitigating anxiety. A seemingly greater number of severely anxious Canadians were born female, self-identified as a cisgender woman, and were in their 60s and in poor to fair health. A univariate logistic regression analysis revealed that all such personal characteristics were associated with statistically significantly greater odds of experiencing severe anxiety. In our multivariate logistic regression analysis, no significant differences were observed between the sexes (AOR = 0.590, p = 0.404), and non-binary and cisgender men (AOR = 0.689, p = 0.441) and women (AOR = 0.657, p = 0.397). Nor were there statistically significant differences in the odds of experiencing severe anxiety for those living with versus without a life partner and chronic illnesses. Older Canadians experiencing severe anxiety were far more likely to normalize their fear and anxiety (AOR = 4.76, p < 0.001), challenge their worries (AOR = 5.21, p < 0.001), and to relax or meditate (AOR = 2.36, p = < 0.001). They were less inclined to decrease other sources of stress in their lives, to stay active, and to get enough sleep. We offer anticipatory guidance for mental health program planners and practitioners, and fruitful avenues of inquiry for researchers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health across Diverse Populations)
17 pages, 2045 KiB  
Article
What Chinese Women Seek in Mental Health Apps: Insights from Analyzing Xiaohongshu User Posts during the COVID-19 Pandemic
by Zhenzhen Qin, Sandy Ng, Wenqing Wu and Suxin Zhang
Healthcare 2024, 12(13), 1297; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12131297 - 28 Jun 2024
Viewed by 1219
Abstract
Gender disparity poses a prominent obstacle to achieving effective mental health outcomes in digital healthcare. Despite women being more inclined to use mental health apps and seeking designs tailored to their specific needs, there is limited research on the factors influencing female users’ [...] Read more.
Gender disparity poses a prominent obstacle to achieving effective mental health outcomes in digital healthcare. Despite women being more inclined to use mental health apps and seeking designs tailored to their specific needs, there is limited research on the factors influencing female users’ engagement with these apps. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated its disproportionate impact on women’s mental health. This study investigates female users’ posts (n = 5538) about mental health apps during the pandemic, using data collected via a Python web crawler from Xiaohongshu, a popular female-centric social media platform in China. A mixed-methods approach used qualitative thematic analysis and quantitative descriptive statistics. Among these posts, therapeutic functionality emerged as the highest priority, followed by credibility and user experience, with specific design elements highlighted as particularly significant. These findings provide valuable insights for mental health researchers and developers, including you, aiming to create gender-tailored mobile solutions to address the mental health challenges faced by women, especially during future pandemics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health across Diverse Populations)
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14 pages, 280 KiB  
Article
From Crisis to Opportunity: A Qualitative Study on Rehabilitation Therapists’ Experiences and Post-Pandemic Perspectives
by Marianne Saragosa, Farwa Goraya, Frances Serrano, Behdin Nowrouzi-Kia, Sara Guilcher, Yasmin Abdul Aziz and Basem Gohar
Healthcare 2024, 12(10), 1050; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12101050 - 20 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1078
Abstract
Rehabilitation therapists (RTs) have developed substantial mental health problems since the pandemic. Our study aimed to understand the experience of COVID-19 on occupational therapists and physiotherapists practicing in Canada, how the pandemic may have affected care delivery, and to identify new learnings articulated [...] Read more.
Rehabilitation therapists (RTs) have developed substantial mental health problems since the pandemic. Our study aimed to understand the experience of COVID-19 on occupational therapists and physiotherapists practicing in Canada, how the pandemic may have affected care delivery, and to identify new learnings articulated by RTs. A qualitative descriptive study design guided data collection through one-on-one interviews, dyadic interviews, and focus groups. We recruited active RTs across Canada, advertising on professional practice networks and social media platforms and using snowball sampling. Forty-nine RTs representing seven Canadian provinces participated. The four overarching themes developed using thematic analysis were (1) navigating uncertainty along with ever-changing practices, policies, and attitudes, (2) morphing roles within a constrained system, (3) witnessing patients suffering and experiencing moral distress, and (4) recognizing the personal toll of the pandemic on self and others, as well as lessons learned. Our study demonstrated that many RTs suffered moral distress, poor mental health, and some from challenging financial situations, especially those in the private sector. They also expressed a resilient attitude in response to these stressors. Implications in the future include identifying promising communication strategies that could act as protective factors, addressing workforce constraints and diminishing resources through innovative models of care. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health across Diverse Populations)
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