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During and after COVID-19: Challenges and Paths for Psychosocial Well-Being of Young People

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Adolescents".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 December 2022) | Viewed by 37774

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Luigia Simona Sica

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Humanities, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy
Interests: developmental psychology; life-span; creativity; identity

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

The experience linked to the COVID-19 emergency constitutes a turning point in the biographies of most of us: a moment of crisis and rupture in the continuity of events capable of marking an abrupt and discontinuous transition between a before and an after in the personal life and in the evolutionary path of each individual. The suspension of usual activities, the redefinition of life contexts and the restriction of relationships have opened up large spaces and times of thought and reflection on oneself that could have activated processes of the redefinition of personal identity and psycho-social imbalance. The effects of these profound changes can be recorded for the entire population in its life cycle, but can be particularly marked for those transitional age groups more sensitive to contextual changes (pre-adolescence, adolescence, and transition to adulthood). In this case, in fact, the normative challenges that accompany everyone's growth paths are accompanied by additional challenges, imposed by the unpredictability of the events that have occurred and the need to manage them with new resources, with events sometimes not experienced before.

It seems appropriate, then, to make a point of the psychological implications of the pandemic experience for young people, trying to identify potentially maladaptive effects, but also, and above all, the psycho-social resources activated to deal with the emergency, both individually and contextually.

The objective of this Special Issue, therefore, is to prevent the imbalance caused by the pandemic in individuals and in the community being simply reabsorbed into a new-found normality, instead highlighting the resources, experiences, and innovations that have been imagined, created and experimented with during the emergency phase.

Therefore, we welcome studies that focus on the psychological dimensions of the COVID-19 experience in young people and on an accurate examination of their new needs and the tools to satisfy them, such as to allow them to pass from an emergency science phase to a more aware and less impromptu phase. Qualitative studies, quantitative studies , mixed studies, and psycho-social area meta-analyses will be equally considered. 

Prof. Dr. Luigia Simona Sica
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • adolescence and transition to adulthood
  • developmental and educational psychology
  • psycho-social resources and risks
  • new technologies
  • TEL
  • COVID-19

Published Papers (18 papers)

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14 pages, 749 KiB  
Article
Validation of the Attitude Scale on Prospective Teachers’ Perceptions of the Consequences on Their Psychological State: Well-Being and Cognition
by Carlos Hervás-Gómez, María Dolores Díaz-Noguera, Ángela Martín-Gutiérrez and Gloria Luisa Morales-Pérez
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(8), 5439; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20085439 - 7 Apr 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2247
Abstract
The aim of this study was to analyse the validated psychometric characteristics of the “Scale of Attitudes towards New Post-Pandemic Scenarios” (SANPS) tool using a short version on Perceptions of Future Teachers towards the New Post-Pandemic Educational Scenarios; describe the attitudes of future [...] Read more.
The aim of this study was to analyse the validated psychometric characteristics of the “Scale of Attitudes towards New Post-Pandemic Scenarios” (SANPS) tool using a short version on Perceptions of Future Teachers towards the New Post-Pandemic Educational Scenarios; describe the attitudes of future teachers towards motivation, collaboration, and emerging active pedagogies; and determine the internal consistency and reliability of the tool. The design structure of the instrument consists of the following three latent factors, which were obtained through an exploratory factor analysis (EFA): empowerment/motivation, autonomy/situated learning and emerging digital pedagogies. The questionnaire was administered to a sample of 966 participants. In the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), a previous hypothesis was established regarding the relationship of the factors and their number and nature, specifying the number of factors and the way in which the variables are related to each other. The 66.53% of total variance was explained. The reliability, calculated with Cronbach’s alpha, reached a global value of over 0.90 (α = 0.94). This valid and reliable questionnaire, which incorporates a dimension that measures the transfer of learning in hybrid and multimodal models of digital ecosystems in Higher Education, can be applied in the evaluation of online education processes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue During and after COVID-19: Challenges and Paths for Psychosocial Well-Being of Young People)
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16 pages, 704 KiB  
Article
Religiosity, Theism, Perceived Social Support, Resilience, and Well-Being of University Undergraduate Students in Singapore during the COVID-19 Pandemic
by Samuel Ken-En Gan, Sibyl Weang-Yi Wong and Peng-De Jiao
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(4), 3620; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20043620 - 17 Feb 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3004
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic infection control measures severely impacted mental well-being, allowing insight into possible protective parameters. With religion playing a role during challenging times, this study investigated theism and religiosity on the mental well-being of university students during the COVID19 pandemic and how [...] Read more.
The COVID-19 pandemic infection control measures severely impacted mental well-being, allowing insight into possible protective parameters. With religion playing a role during challenging times, this study investigated theism and religiosity on the mental well-being of university students during the COVID19 pandemic and how social support and resilience can mediate this effect. One hundred eighty-five university students between 17 and 42 years old responded to online surveys on their theism, religious affiliations, religiosity, well-being, perceived support, and resilience. Pearson’s correlations and single and sequential mediation analyses showed that theism did not significantly predict well-being (r = 0.049), but religiosity mediated the relationship (r = 0.432, effect size = 0.187). Sequential mediation analysis showed that resilience did not mediate the relationship between religiosity and well-being, but perceived social support significantly positively mediated religiosity and well-being with an effect size of 0.079. The findings reveal that factors, such as religiosity and social support could thus aid in the mental well-being of future challenging times such as the pandemic. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue During and after COVID-19: Challenges and Paths for Psychosocial Well-Being of Young People)
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13 pages, 1227 KiB  
Article
Optimists and Realists: A Latent Class Analysis of Students Graduating from High School during COVID-19 and Impacts on Affect and Well-Being
by Ana Zdravkovic and Abby L. Goldstein
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(3), 2120; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20032120 - 24 Jan 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1732
Abstract
The Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic has had profound effects on physical and mental health worldwide. Students transitioning out of high school were uniquely impacted at the onset of the pandemic, having missed the opportunity to properly mark the end of their final [...] Read more.
The Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic has had profound effects on physical and mental health worldwide. Students transitioning out of high school were uniquely impacted at the onset of the pandemic, having missed the opportunity to properly mark the end of their final year in the K-12 school system. The adverse effects of this loss on this population are still unknown. The purpose of the current study was to examine stress, wellbeing, and affect in a sample of 168 students (N = 168; Mage = 17.0, SD = 0.46; 60% female; 40% male) who were completing their final year of high school during the early stages of the pandemic when emergency stay-at-home orders were in place. Participants completed an online survey assessing the impact of COVID-19 on their life satisfaction (pre-COVID19, during COVID-19, and anticipated five years from now), stress, positive affect, and negative affect. Latent class analysis (LCA) was used to create classes of participants based on their responses to the pandemic. A two-subgroup solution provided the best model for the life satisfaction outcome variable. Subgroup 1, optimists, comprised 24% (N = 40) of the sample and reported high life satisfaction ratings one year prior to COVID-19 and a slight decrease in life satisfaction during COVID-19, and they anticipated an increase in life satisfaction 5 years from now. This group was characterized by low stress, low negative affect, and high positive affect during the pandemic. Subgroup 2, realists, comprised 76% of the population (N = 128) and experienced similarly high retrospective ratings of pre-COVID life satisfaction but a larger decrease in life satisfaction during the pandemic and a smaller increase in five years. The realist group was characterized by low positive affect, high stress, and high negative affect during the pandemic. The findings suggest that during the pandemic, certain subsamples of adolescents had greater difficulty in managing this transitional period and experienced changes in mood and well-being (i.e., affect, stress) as compared to other adolescents (i.e., optimists). Future research should investigate the characteristics and coping mechanisms that are instrumental for increasing life satisfaction and positive affect while lowering stress in this population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue During and after COVID-19: Challenges and Paths for Psychosocial Well-Being of Young People)
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11 pages, 332 KiB  
Article
Changes in Sleep Satisfaction of Korean Adolescents in the Pre- and Post-COVID-19 Eras and Its Effects on Health Behaviors
by Dahyeon Lee, Kang-Sook Lee, Sejin Kim, Woohyun Chung, Jeung Jegal and Hyeonjung Han
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(3), 1702; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20031702 - 17 Jan 2023
Viewed by 1338
Abstract
Adolescence is a crucial period for cognitive and psychological development and physical maturation. During this period, hormonally influenced circadian rhythms lead to reduced hours of sleep, and it is important to determine whether sleep quality is sufficient for fatigue relief. Non-face-to-face classes during [...] Read more.
Adolescence is a crucial period for cognitive and psychological development and physical maturation. During this period, hormonally influenced circadian rhythms lead to reduced hours of sleep, and it is important to determine whether sleep quality is sufficient for fatigue relief. Non-face-to-face classes during coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) potentially affected adolescents’ sleep quality, psychological state, amount of physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, and internet (smartphone) use. We investigated the effects of the COVID-19 situation on adolescents’ sleep satisfaction and its relation to the aforementioned factors. Data of 109,281 adolescents collected via an online survey, conducted from 3 June 2019 to 12 July 2019 and from 3 August 2020 to 13 November 2020, were analyzed. Health status comparison between the satisfactory and unsatisfactory sleep groups yielded significant results (odds ratio [OR] = 1.10, confidence interval [CI] = 1.04–1.17) for 2020. In both groups, perceived health was worse in 2019 than in 2020 (OR = 2.72, CI = 2.53–2.92). During COVID-19, non-face-to-face classes increased adolescents’ sleep satisfaction. Their psychological state improved, while amount of physical activity (muscle-strengthening exercises), average weight, and internet (smartphone) use increased. Smoking and alcohol consumption decreased. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue During and after COVID-19: Challenges and Paths for Psychosocial Well-Being of Young People)
12 pages, 914 KiB  
Article
Association between Family Support, Stress, and Sleep Quality among College Students during the COVID-19 Online Learning Period
by Xiaobing Xian, Yu Zhang, Aiting Bai, Xingpeng Zhai, Hong Hu, Jiao Zhang and Mengliang Ye
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(1), 248; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20010248 - 23 Dec 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2592
Abstract
(1) Background: During the past 3 years, the COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected the normal school schedule of college students, jeopardizing their mental health, sleep quality, and interpersonal relationships. However, previous studies have focused on the dimension of social support received, and few [...] Read more.
(1) Background: During the past 3 years, the COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected the normal school schedule of college students, jeopardizing their mental health, sleep quality, and interpersonal relationships. However, previous studies have focused on the dimension of social support received, and few studies have measured in depth the association of support received from family on adolescents’ physical and mental health. Therefore, this study explored the associations between family support received by Chinese college students during COVID-19 pandemic online classes, stress and sleep quality, and the mediating role of stress. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted at Chongqing Medical University recruited 712 college students through a university-wide incidental random sample using the Questionnaire Star platform. Statistical description and correlation analysis was conducted using SPSS 25.0, and structural equation modeling was constructed using AMOS 22.0 to test for mediating effects; (3) Results: The family support score of college students during the COVID-19 pandemic online course was 19.41 ± 4.62. Correlation analysis showed that sleep quality was negatively correlated with family support (r = −0.224, p < 0.01), positively correlated with stress (r = 0.324, p < 0.01), and family support was negatively correlated with stress (r = −0.159, p < 0.01). The results of structural equation modeling showed that stress partially mediated the relationship between family support and sleep quality among college students (indirect effect = −0.150, p < 0.01, SE = 0.013,95% CI = [−0.208, −0.064]). The model R2 was 36.4%. (4) Conclusions: Schools should consider implementing sleep education, and stress relief curriculum measures to improve the quality of students’ sleep, and should focus on the role that family plays during online classes. This will help students overcome the negative emotional effects of stress in the COVID-19 pandemic and improve their learning efficiency and physical and mental health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue During and after COVID-19: Challenges and Paths for Psychosocial Well-Being of Young People)
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9 pages, 478 KiB  
Article
Experiencing the COVID-19 Emergency: Age-Related Disequilibrating Event for Identity
by Tiziana Di Palma, Luca Fusco, Luigia Simona Sica and Laura Aleni Sestito
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(23), 15708; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192315708 - 25 Nov 2022
Viewed by 1054
Abstract
The experience linked to the COVID-19 emergency constituted a turning point in the biography of most Italians. The suspension of usual activities, the redefinition of life contexts and the restriction of relationships have opened up wide spaces and time for thinking and reflecting [...] Read more.
The experience linked to the COVID-19 emergency constituted a turning point in the biography of most Italians. The suspension of usual activities, the redefinition of life contexts and the restriction of relationships have opened up wide spaces and time for thinking and reflecting on oneself, which may have triggered processes of redefinition of personal identity. The general aim of this study was to explore the impact of pandemic on daily life in the life span, in order to support the hypothesis that the pandemic experience could be considered a disequilibrating life-event and a turning point in the biography of most Italians. A mixed research approach was adopted, with 14 closed and open questions created ad hoc. 41 participants (87% women, average age 40.71), resident in the Campania region, in southern Italy, responded to the online written interview. The data were analyzed by two independent coders, using categorical content analysis with a top-down approach. Membership of the different age groups (young adults, adults, elderly) was assessed as a comparison variable. Findings qualify pandemic-related experiences as a disequilibrating life event, potentially capable of activating, alongside emotionally dense experiences, adaptive and functional resources for identity reconsideration, with differences being age based. The dimensions of change, the affective dimensions, the resources and the areas of risk identified, allowed us to identify three different clusters, showing a differentiation according to age groups, which identifies young adults and the elderly as the subjects most at risk. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue During and after COVID-19: Challenges and Paths for Psychosocial Well-Being of Young People)
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13 pages, 737 KiB  
Article
Assessment of the Long-Term Mental Health Effects on Austrian Students after COVID-19 Restrictions
by Stefan Kaltschik, Christoph Pieh, Rachel Dale, Thomas Probst, Barbara Pammer and Elke Humer
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(20), 13110; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192013110 - 12 Oct 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2424
Abstract
The mental health of adolescents has been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to assess the mental health of Austrian adolescents in spring 2022, a time during which COVID-19-related restrictions had been significantly lifted. A total of [...] Read more.
The mental health of adolescents has been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to assess the mental health of Austrian adolescents in spring 2022, a time during which COVID-19-related restrictions had been significantly lifted. A total of N = 616 students aged between 14 and 20 participated in a cross-sectional survey between April and May 2022 (t2). The prevalence of clinically relevant symptoms was 73% among girls and 44% among boys for depression (PHQ-9 score ≥ 11), 57% in girls and 35% in boys for anxiety (GAD-7 score ≥ 11), 34% in girls and 21% in boys for sleeping problems (ISI score ≥ 15), and 95% in girls and 81% in boys for experiencing at least moderate stress (PSS-10 score ≥ 14). Frequent suicidal ideations were reported by 24% of girls and 12% of boys. These results were compared with the results from a cross-sectional study from February 2021 (t1). To account for differences in covariates between samples, data were propensity score matched before the analysis. Compared with t1, we found an increase among girls regarding clinically relevant symptoms of depression (OR = 1.78), anxiety (OR = 1.34), insomnia (OR = 1.63), and suicidal ideations (OR = 1.96; p < 0.05 for all measures). Significant correlations were found between smartphone use and mental health and physical activity and mental health for both genders. The results of this study indicated that even during the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the mental health of adolescents in Austria is still severely impaired. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue During and after COVID-19: Challenges and Paths for Psychosocial Well-Being of Young People)
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16 pages, 991 KiB  
Article
Exploring Factors That Affected Student Well-Being during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Comparison of Data-Mining Approaches
by Hülya Yürekli, Öyküm Esra Yiğit, Okan Bulut, Min Lu and Ersoy Öz
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(18), 11267; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191811267 - 7 Sep 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1873
Abstract
COVID-19-related school closures caused unprecedented and prolonged disruption to daily life, education, and social and physical activities. This disruption in the life course affected the well-being of students from different age groups. This study proposed analyzing student well-being and determining the most influential [...] Read more.
COVID-19-related school closures caused unprecedented and prolonged disruption to daily life, education, and social and physical activities. This disruption in the life course affected the well-being of students from different age groups. This study proposed analyzing student well-being and determining the most influential factors that affected student well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. With this aim, we adopted a cross-sectional study designed to analyze the student data from the Responses to Educational Disruption Survey (REDS) collected between December 2020 and July 2021 from a large sample of grade 8 or equivalent students from eight countries (n = 20,720), including Burkina Faso, Denmark, Ethiopia, Kenya, the Russian Federation, Slovenia, the United Arab Emirates, and Uzbekistan. We first estimated a well-being IRT score for each student in the REDS student database. Then, we used 10 data-mining approaches to determine the most influential factors that affected the well-being of students during the COVID-19 outbreak. Overall, 178 factors were analyzed. The results indicated that the most influential factors on student well-being were multifarious. The most influential variables on student well-being were students’ worries about contracting COVID-19 at school, their learning progress during the COVID-19 disruption, their motivation to learn when school reopened, and their excitement to reunite with friends after the COVID-19 disruption. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue During and after COVID-19: Challenges and Paths for Psychosocial Well-Being of Young People)
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17 pages, 398 KiB  
Article
The Psychological Well-Being and Civic Engagement of Polish, Croatian and Lithuanian Academic Students during COVID-19 Outbreak
by Mateusz Marciniak, Sylwia Jaskulska, Slaven Gasparovic, Brigita Janiūnaitė, Jolita Horbačauskienė and Renata Glavak Tkalić
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(18), 11202; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191811202 - 6 Sep 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1797
Abstract
The aim of this research was to recognize the relationship between well-being and civic engagement under the difficult circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic amongst students from Poland, Lithuania and Croatia. Overall, 1362 academic students (Poland, n = 596, Croatia, n = 386, and [...] Read more.
The aim of this research was to recognize the relationship between well-being and civic engagement under the difficult circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic amongst students from Poland, Lithuania and Croatia. Overall, 1362 academic students (Poland, n = 596, Croatia, n = 386, and Lithuania, n = 379) participated in the study. Mean rank differences in civic engagement level (overall CE) were analysed by levels of psychological well-being (overall PWB and its subscales) using the Kruskal–Wallis test (one-way ANOVA on ranks). We conducted post hoc analysis with Bonferroni tests to measure the significance of differences in CE between the detailed levels of PWB. To avoid biases due to interaction effects between dependent variables, the analysis of mean ranks was followed by a binomial logistic regression analysis model and subgroups analysis (by gender and by country). Results obtained showed that students with higher levels of psychological well-being have higher levels of civic engagement. The differences in the CE level are most pronounced in relation to the dimension of a PWB, such as “positive relations with others”, followed by “personal growth”, “autonomy”, and “self-acceptance”. In a crisis, such as a pandemic, it is worth encouraging students to take targeted actions, as well as to create actions referring to personal development and relationships. There were no differences in the direction and shape of the associations between psychological well-being and civic engagement with respect to the country and the gender of the participants, which leads us to draw conclusions pointing to the globalised nature of student experience during the pandemic in this part of Europe. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue During and after COVID-19: Challenges and Paths for Psychosocial Well-Being of Young People)
13 pages, 1004 KiB  
Article
Hyper-Activity Books and Serious Games: How to Promote Experiential Learning beyond Distance
by Michela Ponticorvo, Elena Dell’Aquila and Raffaele Di Fuccio
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(17), 11132; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191711132 - 5 Sep 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1851
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of digital tools for learning. Experiential learning, a crucial process in the educational pathway, can also be promoted at a distance. This paper describes HAB, hyper-activity books and serious games (SG) as methodologies to be used [...] Read more.
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of digital tools for learning. Experiential learning, a crucial process in the educational pathway, can also be promoted at a distance. This paper describes HAB, hyper-activity books and serious games (SG) as methodologies to be used for assessment and training that overcome physical distancing due to COVID-19 in learning. We introduce some examples of these methodologies. The experiences and results represent a pool of resources for experiential learning in everyday educational practice and not merely for responding to emergencies caused by pandemics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue During and after COVID-19: Challenges and Paths for Psychosocial Well-Being of Young People)
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13 pages, 358 KiB  
Article
The Relationships between Psychological Well-Being, Emotions and Coping in COVID-19 Environment: The Gender Aspect for Postgraduate Students
by Saule Sipaviciene
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(16), 10132; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191610132 - 16 Aug 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1660
Abstract
Background: Postgraduate students were exposed to the Coronavirus pandemic, and their study process changed from face-to-face to online. The purpose of this study was to analyze the impact of gender differences on emotions, coping strategies and psychological well-being (PWB) in the environment of [...] Read more.
Background: Postgraduate students were exposed to the Coronavirus pandemic, and their study process changed from face-to-face to online. The purpose of this study was to analyze the impact of gender differences on emotions, coping strategies and psychological well-being (PWB) in the environment of the Coronavirus pandemic second wave (11 July 2020–30 June 2021). Methods: Ryff scale, MEQ Multidimensional emotion questionnaire, and brief COPE scale. The participants’ consisted of postgraduate students (74 female and 54 male). The study was conducted from 21 June 2022 to 28 June 2022. Results: Postgraduate students rated their PWB levels insignificantly in terms of gender. However, the individual components of this construct were evaluated as being significantly different in terms of gender. Females were more likely to feel negative emotions and had a harder time regulating these emotions than males. Female students were less likely than males to use problem-focused and avoidant-focused coping strategies. Conclusions: Postgraduate females were more affected than males by the Coronavirus pandemic. Females’ PWB was more concerned with emotions than males. Females were less likely than males to use problem-focused coping strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue During and after COVID-19: Challenges and Paths for Psychosocial Well-Being of Young People)
13 pages, 779 KiB  
Article
The COVID-19 Experience: Creativity as an Identity Attractor for Young People Facing the Developmental Challenges
by Luigia Simona Sica
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(15), 8913; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19158913 - 22 Jul 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1484
Abstract
The study focuses on identifying the impacts of the COVID experience on young people and exploring whether, during the pandemic period, adolescents and young adults resorted to flexible and creative coping strategies, which may have served as resources. The participants consisted of 70 [...] Read more.
The study focuses on identifying the impacts of the COVID experience on young people and exploring whether, during the pandemic period, adolescents and young adults resorted to flexible and creative coping strategies, which may have served as resources. The participants consisted of 70 Italian freshmen (18 males and 52 females) aged 18 to 21, attending their first year of university. Adopting a narrative approach, we identified seven creativity functions and two interpretative factors, supporting the idea that creativity may have constituted a psychological resource for young people during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the findings suggest that creativity can be configured as an identity attractor. Implications and future research directions are discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue During and after COVID-19: Challenges and Paths for Psychosocial Well-Being of Young People)
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14 pages, 506 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Physical Well-Being and Leisure Time of Polish Students during the COVID-19 Outbreak
by Sylwia Jaskulska, Barbara Jankowiak, Mateusz Marciniak and Michal Klichowski
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(14), 8358; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19148358 - 8 Jul 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2148
Abstract
This project aims to recognize the school experiences of Polish students during the COVID-19 outbreak; we focused on the area of assessment of physical well-being and leisure time. Nearly two thousand primary or secondary school students aged 9 to 20 participated in the [...] Read more.
This project aims to recognize the school experiences of Polish students during the COVID-19 outbreak; we focused on the area of assessment of physical well-being and leisure time. Nearly two thousand primary or secondary school students aged 9 to 20 participated in the survey. Running descriptive statistics, frequency analysis, and significant difference tests, we found that 45% of students thought their physical well-being during the COVID-19 outbreak worsened compared to pre-pandemic times. Boys declared they felt better in their physical well-being than girls (p < 0.001). Most students noticed changes in the quality of their leisure time activities; boys were happier than girls in their free time during the outbreak (p < 0.001). Learners’ ages also differentiated the assessment of their physical well-being (p < 0.001) and leisure time (p < 0.001). The youngest students more often assessed their experiences in the researched fields as good or increased, while the older groups more often noticed a decrease. Multinomial logistic regression proved that the differences in the assessments of physical well-being and leisure time could be explained to the greatest extent by age and gender, whereas the place of residence and school location were insignificant. All in all, our study confirms the dominance of the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical well-being and changes in leisure time. As such, it is advisable (during and after outbreaks) to support children and adolescents by targeting individual and institution levels. We recommend developing techniques to reduce stress and information overload, increasing creative ways of spending leisure time, supporting families in navigating children’s free time, and expanding social support networks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue During and after COVID-19: Challenges and Paths for Psychosocial Well-Being of Young People)
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14 pages, 400 KiB  
Article
Exploring the Impacts of Preventative Health Behaviors with Respect to COVID-19: An Altruistic Perspective
by Yi-Fang Luo, Shu-Ching Yang, Shih-Chieh Hung and Kun-Yi Chou
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(13), 7573; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19137573 - 21 Jun 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1368
Abstract
This study aims to explore the impact of gender and anxiety on various preventative health behaviors, and the relationships among these preventative health behaviors, individual well-being and depression, from the perspective of altruism. This study employed an online questionnaire survey, and 136 males [...] Read more.
This study aims to explore the impact of gender and anxiety on various preventative health behaviors, and the relationships among these preventative health behaviors, individual well-being and depression, from the perspective of altruism. This study employed an online questionnaire survey, and 136 males and 204 females participated in the survey. The results of this study showed that females exhibited better preventative health behaviors than males, including hygiene habits, social distancing and behaviors intended to help others mitigate the epidemic. Anxiety regarding COVID-19 infection encouraged individuals to adopt hygienic habits and social distancing measures rather than to help others mitigate the epidemic. Hygiene habits improved the individual’s psychological well-being. Helping others mitigate the epidemic improved the individual’s psychological well-being and social well-being and contributed to reducing individual depression. However, the preventative health behavior involved in social distancing was not conducive to emotional well-being or social well-being. Affective elements are related to individual behaviors. Therefore, the use of prosocial, altruistic language may play an important role with respect to encouraging people to comply with preventative health behaviors in the context of COVID-19. In addition, it is worth noting that different preventative health behaviors may have different effects on people’s mental health, especially when implementing social distancing-related epidemic mitigation behaviors. The question of how to prevent negative psychological effects in restricted actors must be answered, and the degree of life satisfaction experienced by those actors must also be taken into account. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue During and after COVID-19: Challenges and Paths for Psychosocial Well-Being of Young People)
11 pages, 494 KiB  
Article
Interconnectedness Is Associated with a Greater Sense of Civic Duty and Collective Action Participation through Transcendental Awareness and Compassion during COVID-19
by Winnie W. S. Mak, Sin Man Ng, Emily W. S. Tsoi and Ben C. L. Yu
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(12), 7261; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19127261 - 14 Jun 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1557
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has a unprecedented impact on the way individuals make sense of the interconnected nature of themselves in relation to the world. This study investigated the mediating role of transcendental awareness and compassion in the association of interconnectedness with a sense [...] Read more.
The COVID-19 pandemic has a unprecedented impact on the way individuals make sense of the interconnected nature of themselves in relation to the world. This study investigated the mediating role of transcendental awareness and compassion in the association of interconnectedness with a sense of civic duty and collective action participation during COVID-19 using a longitudinal design. A total of 336 young adult participants were recruited at baseline and were asked to complete measures of interconnectedness, transcendental awareness, compassion, civic duty, and collective action participation at three time points over a 6-month period. Path analysis was used to test the hypothesized mediation model. The results showed that compassion fully mediated the positive association between interconnectedness and collective action participation and partially mediated the positive association between interconnectedness and civic duty. Transcendental awareness also partially mediated the positive association between interconnectedness and civic duty but not collective action participation. This study highlighted the potential of interconnectedness in promoting civic duty and engagement in collective action through transcendental awareness and compassion during the COVID-19 pandemic. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue During and after COVID-19: Challenges and Paths for Psychosocial Well-Being of Young People)
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16 pages, 375 KiB  
Article
The Emotions, Coping, and Psychological Well-Being in Time of COVID-19: Case of Master’s Students
by Audrone Dumciene and Jurate Pozeriene
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(10), 6014; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19106014 - 15 May 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2301
Abstract
Background: Master’s students have been affected by COVID-19 and the changing study conditions due to the lockdown. The aim was to uncover changes in emotions, coping strategies, and psychological well-being during a pandemic. Methods: Ryff scale, multidimensional emotion questionnaire, and Brief COPE scale. [...] Read more.
Background: Master’s students have been affected by COVID-19 and the changing study conditions due to the lockdown. The aim was to uncover changes in emotions, coping strategies, and psychological well-being during a pandemic. Methods: Ryff scale, multidimensional emotion questionnaire, and Brief COPE scale. Participants: sample of 118 master’s students after the first wave and 128 master’s students after the second wave. Results: After the second wave of COVID-19, the happy, enthusiastic, and inspired scores of the emotion construct components increased statistically significantly (p < 0.05), but the scores of the components sad, afraid, angry, ashamed, and anxious decreased significantly (p < 0.05). After the first wave, students commonly used planning, positive reframing, self-blame, humor, and acceptance coping strategies, which are classified as problem-focused and emotion-focused coping strategies. The psychological well-being of master’s students after the second wave was statistically (p < 0.05) better than that after the first wave in many indicators. Environment mastery skills did not change significantly. Significant associations were revealed between the same components of psychological well-being, emotion, and coping strategies. Conclusions: This study showed that the master’s students improved their adaptive abilities probably in the environment of long-term exposure to coronavirus disease, as most psychological well-being indicators improved significantly after the second wave. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue During and after COVID-19: Challenges and Paths for Psychosocial Well-Being of Young People)

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Jump to: Research

17 pages, 851 KiB  
Systematic Review
A Systematic Review of Mobile Apps as an Adjunct to Psychological Interventions for Emotion Dysregulation
by Federico Diano, Luigia Simona Sica and Michela Ponticorvo
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(2), 1431; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20021431 - 12 Jan 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2178
Abstract
Background: Mental health care has been enriched with the progressive use of technology during the last ten years, in particular after the COVID-19 pandemic. Mobile applications (apps) and smartphones have become the most widespread access point for many people who look for self-help [...] Read more.
Background: Mental health care has been enriched with the progressive use of technology during the last ten years, in particular after the COVID-19 pandemic. Mobile applications (apps) and smartphones have become the most widespread access point for many people who look for self-help in the psychological domain. Objective: We focused on a systematic review of mobile apps for mental health, focusing on the blending of apps with psychotherapy contexts, with a specific focus on emotional dysregulation. Methods: A comprehensive literature search (January 2017 to August 2022) in PubMed, PsycInfo, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library was conducted. Abstracts were included if they described mental health mobile apps targeting emotional dysregulation and their use during ongoing psychological or psychotherapy treatment for adults and adolescents. Results: In total, 397 abstracts were identified; of these, 19 publications describing apps targeting borderline personality disorder, depression, anxiety, suicidal behaviors, and post-traumatic stress disorders met the inclusion criteria. Conclusions: App-enhanced psychotherapy might be a winning combination in many scenarios, but at the same time, many issues must still be faced in this yet emerging scientific field. In conclusion, we tried to put together some major guidelines for mental health mobile app development in the context of psychological treatments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue During and after COVID-19: Challenges and Paths for Psychosocial Well-Being of Young People)
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17 pages, 2520 KiB  
Systematic Review
Meta-Analysis of Psychological Interventions for Reducing Stress, Anxiety, and Depression among University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic
by Romualdas Malinauskas and Vilija Malinauskiene
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(15), 9199; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19159199 - 27 Jul 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3637
Abstract
(1) Background: The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of internet-based intervention programs for reducing stress, anxiety, and depression among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic by conducting a meta-analysis. (2) Methods: Searches were conducted in the following databases: MEDLINE, [...] Read more.
(1) Background: The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of internet-based intervention programs for reducing stress, anxiety, and depression among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic by conducting a meta-analysis. (2) Methods: Searches were conducted in the following databases: MEDLINE, EbscoHost Academic Search Ultimate, and PsycArticles, using a combination of “Covid-19 AND ‘Randomized Controlled Trial’ AND students”, as well as a combination of the following search terms: “internet”, “online”, “treat_”, “psycholog_”, “intervention”, “program_”, “stress_”, “depress_”, “anxiety”, “university”, “college”, ”freshm_”, “sophomore_”, and “undergraduat_”. The population, intervention, control, outcomes, and study design (PICOS) framework was used (P (population): university students during the COVID-19 pandemic; I (intervention): internet-based intervention programs for reducing stress, anxiety, and depression; C (control): no intervention, usual care, or on a waiting list; O (outcomes): stress, anxiety, and depression indicators; S (study design): meta-analysis including only randomized controlled trials (RCTs)). A meta-analysis was performed on the 10 retrieved studies published between 2021 and 2022. Only RCTs were analyzed. (3) Results: All 10 analyzed papers revealed a trend in the effectiveness of internet-based intervention for reducing stress, anxiety, and depression in university students during COVID-19. Significant effects from the included RCTs with interventions for reducing stress and depression were established. (4) Conclusions: Psychological internet-based interventions may help to reduce depression and stress among university students; however, more research is needed to determine their effectiveness in reducing anxiety. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue During and after COVID-19: Challenges and Paths for Psychosocial Well-Being of Young People)
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