BACKGROUND: Using the perspective of the recent COVID-19 pandemic, which represents a public health challenge that also affects education and the psychological well-being of students, this paper aims to assess the vulnerability to anxiety and stress of the Romanian students from the Faculty of Administration and Business of the University of Bucharest pursuing their degrees in administration and business. METHODS: Our study is based on the results of the survey that was administered to a sample of 422 students (39.6% females and 60.4% males) selected from the pool of 2000 recruited respondents. We employed the ANOVA/linear Dependent Dirichlet Process mixture model to explain the causes of stress and anxiety after various grouping variables represented by gender, specialisation, as well as labour market status. RESULTS: Our results revealed that more than 80% of the students in the sample yielded medium and high vulnerability to stress, while 64% of the respondents were affected by severe anxiety (high frequency of psychological, social, and physical problems that were difficult for them to control). The most important stressors were the fear of getting infected and social distancing, while self-control was considered the most effective coping strategy by 62.6% of employed students. CONCLUSIONS: These results allow us to provide practical recommendations for effectively coping with stress and anxiety among students in Romania and beyond and to help stakeholders and policymakers design strategies for strengthening students' resilience, mental health, and well-being in case of future pandemics or other extreme contexts.
- MeSH
- adaptace psychologická * MeSH
- copingové dovednosti MeSH
- COVID-19 * epidemiologie psychologie MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladý dospělý MeSH
- pandemie MeSH
- průzkumy a dotazníky MeSH
- psychický stres * epidemiologie psychologie MeSH
- SARS-CoV-2 MeSH
- studenti * psychologie statistika a číselné údaje MeSH
- univerzity MeSH
- úzkost * epidemiologie psychologie MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladý dospělý MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Rumunsko MeSH
The university student population is particularly vulnerable to depression, which was identified during the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding how depressive symptoms are interrelated with mental and physical health in students is essential. The aim of this study was to reveal the network of depressive and anxiety symptoms with respect to well-being (life satisfaction, physical health, physical activity, and perceived stress) during a difficult situation-the COVID-19 pandemic-at two measurement points of different pandemic severities. A repeated cross-sectional study was conducted in June 2020 (T1) (lower pandemic severity) and March 2021 (T2) (higher pandemic severity) among 592 and 1230 Czech university students, respectively. The measurements used were the PHQ-9, GAD-7, PSS-10, SWLS, self-rated physical health (SRH), and sociodemographic survey. The network analysis approach was utilized. For the significance of differences, the χ2 test, Student's t test, and ANOVA were performed. The results revealed that scale-level depression, stress, and worse SRH increased over time, whereas life satisfaction decreased. Scale-level anxiety and physical activity were stable over time. PHQ2 Sad mood was the most central and influential node at T1 and T2. PHQ9 Suicidal Ideation was closely related to other variables at T1, whereas PHQ1 Anhedonia was closely related to other variables at T2. The most influential risk factors were the PHQ-2 score and the GAD-2 score, which are associated with uncontrollable worrying, whereas life satisfaction, physical health, and physical activity were the most protective factors. It is crucial to recognize and decrease the PHQ2 score and increase life satisfaction to improve the mental health of university students.
- MeSH
- COVID-19 * psychologie epidemiologie MeSH
- cvičení psychologie MeSH
- deprese * epidemiologie psychologie MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- duševní zdraví MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- mladý dospělý MeSH
- osobní uspokojení MeSH
- pandemie MeSH
- průřezové studie MeSH
- průzkumy a dotazníky MeSH
- psychický stres epidemiologie psychologie MeSH
- SARS-CoV-2 izolace a purifikace MeSH
- sebevražedné myšlenky MeSH
- studenti * psychologie MeSH
- univerzity MeSH
- úzkost * epidemiologie psychologie MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- mladý dospělý MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The mental health of healthcare workers (HCWs) may have improved after the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to model the trajectories of psychological distress, depressive symptoms, and resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic and toward its end in HCWs in Czechia and investigate, which COVID-19 work stressors were associated with these trajectories. METHODS: The study included 322 HCWs from the Czech arm of the international HEROES Study who participated in an online questionnaire in two waves during the pandemic and one wave toward its end. Growth mixture modeling identified trajectory patterns of depressive symptoms (measured with Patient Health Questionnaire), distress (General Health Questionnaire), and resilience (Brief Resilience Scale). Logistic regression was applied to estimate the association of COVID-19 stressors with mental health trajectories, adjusting for baseline characteristics. RESULTS: Trajectory classes revealed both high and low depressive symptoms (high in 61% of participants), distress (high in 82% of participants), and resilience (low in 32% of participants). Depressive symptoms and distress trajectories demonstrated the same shape, first increasing during the pandemic and decreasing toward its end, while resilience remained constant. Exposure to COVID-19 stressors, in particular, the experience of stigmatization, discrimination, and violence, was associated with high depressive symptoms and distress trajectories, but not with resilience. CONCLUSIONS: Interventions provided to HCWs during crises such as pandemic should target distress and depressive symptoms and need to address stigmatization, discrimination, and violence.
- MeSH
- COVID-19 * psychologie epidemiologie MeSH
- deprese * psychologie epidemiologie MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- pracovní stres psychologie epidemiologie MeSH
- průzkumy a dotazníky MeSH
- psychická odolnost * MeSH
- psychický distres MeSH
- psychický stres psychologie epidemiologie MeSH
- SARS-CoV-2 MeSH
- zdravotnický personál * psychologie MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
Zdravotničtí pracovníci pečující o pacienty s COVID-19 čelili během pandemie vysokému riziku nákazy, nedostatku personálu, kontaktu se smrtí pacientů a vlastnímu riziku infekce. Tyto faktory výrazně ovlivnily jejich duševní zdraví. Narativní review shrnuje výsledky studií publikovaných v češtině a angličtině mezi lety 2020 a 2024 o dopadu pandemie na duševní zdraví zdravotníků v Česku. Z 20 identifikovaných studií jich splnilo kritéria pro zahrnutí 8. Studie popisují příznaky deprese, stres, syndrom vyhoření, stigmatizaci, diskriminaci a násilí. Výsledky ukazují závažný dopad těchto faktorů na duševní pohodu zdravotníků. Závěrem zdůrazňujeme potřebu preventivních opatření, včetně supervize, psychologické pomoci a podpory ze strany vedení. Důraz na duševní zdraví zdravotníků je klíčový pro jejich ochranu a udržitelnost péče v krizových situacích.
Healthcare workers caring for COVID-19 patients faced a high risk of infection, staff shortages, contact with patient deaths and their own risk of infection during the pandemic. These factors greatly affected their mental health. This narrative review summarizes the results of studies published in Czech and English between 2020 and 2024 on the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of healthcare professionals in the Czechia. Of the 20 studies identified, 8 met the inclusion criteria. Studies describe symptoms of depression, stress, burnout, stigmatization, discrimination, and violence. The results show a severe impact of these factors on the mental well-being of healthcare professionals. Finally, we emphasize the need for preventive measures, including supervision, psychological assistance and support from management. An emphasis on the mental health of healthcare professionals is key to their protection and sustainability of care in crisis situations.
Objectives: This study aims to compare the early childhood mental health of children from marginalized Roma communities (MRCs) in Slovakia with that of the majority and explore possible mediating pathways of mothers' perceived stress and harsh discipline practices. Methods: We used data from the first wave of the longitudinal RomaREACH study collected in 2021-2022. Two populations were included in the sample: 94 mother-child dyads from MRCs and 79 from the majority population (children aged 14-18 months). Data were analysed using linear regression, and mediation was tested using PROCESS Macro in SPSS. Results: Belonging to MRCs vs. the majority, perceived stress of mothers and harsh discipline were found to be associated with early mental health problems in children. Perceived stress of mothers partially mediates the relationship between belonging to MRCs vs. majority and harsh discipline and harsh discipline partially mediates the relationship between perceived stress of mothers and the mental health of children. Conclusion: Mothers from MRCs perceive more stress, which is associated with more frequent use of harsh discipline practices having a negative impact on the mental health of young children.
- MeSH
- duševní zdraví MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- matky psychologie MeSH
- předškolní dítě MeSH
- průřezové studie MeSH
- psychický stres epidemiologie MeSH
- rodičovství * psychologie MeSH
- Romové * MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- předškolní dítě MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Prenatal exposure to maternal stress may increase the risk of developing sleep problems in childhood. This study examined the association between prenatal stressful life events (PSLE) and children's sleep problems, taking into consideration their trajectory over time. Data were obtained from the Czech portion of the European Longitudinal Cohort Study of Pregnancy and Childhood (ELSPAC-CZ; N = 4,371 children). Mothers reported PSLE using an inventory of 42 life events and child sleep problems at five time-points (child age of 1.5, 3, 5, 7, and 11 years). The association was tested by a Poisson latent growth model, controlling for maternal and family demographics, birth characteristics, maternal depression, and alcohol use in pregnancy. The average rate of sleep problems was 2.06 (p < 0.001) at the age of 1.5 years and the rate of sleep problems decreased in a linear fashion over time (estimate = -0.118; p < 0.001). A higher number of PSLE was associated with a higher rate of sleep problems at the age of 1.5 years (incidence rate ratio [IRR] per interquartile range = 1.08, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05-1.12, p < 0.001) and with a reduced rate of decrease in sleep problems between the ages of 1.5 and 11 years (p < 0.001). Thus, PSLE were associated with chronicity of sleep problems in addition to their amount during early childhood. Prenatal exposure to stress may predispose individuals to the development of sleep problems in later life.
- MeSH
- dítě MeSH
- kojenec MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- longitudinální studie MeSH
- matky psychologie MeSH
- poruchy spánku a bdění * epidemiologie etiologie MeSH
- předškolní dítě MeSH
- psychický stres komplikace epidemiologie psychologie MeSH
- spánek MeSH
- těhotenství MeSH
- zpožděný efekt prenatální expozice * MeSH
- Check Tag
- dítě MeSH
- kojenec MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- předškolní dítě MeSH
- těhotenství MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
Poor mental health is a growing concern among young people during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The aim of this study was to assess the associations of Internet addiction with depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and stress in higher education students during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to examine these mental health problems in the context of study-related characteristics. The research sample consisted of 3,099 participants from the Czech Republic (CZ: 1,422) and Slovak Republic (SK: 1,677). The Internet Addiction Test (IAT), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scale, the Patient Health Questionnaire for depressive symptoms (PHQ-9), and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) were used to measure mental health problems. The analyses also included demographic data (gender and age) and study-related characteristics (form of study, degree of study, field of study, distance between college and home, and housing during the semester). Based on the results of frequency and descriptive analyses, the prevalence of mental health problems was high. The most serious levels of Internet addiction (IAT cut-off point ≥ 50), to which attention should be paid, were found in 3.5% of Czech and 6.2% of Slovak students. Using the standard cut-off point of GAD-7 ≥ 10, 14.1% of Czech and 11.6% of Slovak students were identified with anxiety symptoms. Regarding the PHQ-9 with the cut-off point ≥ 10, 23.4% of Czech and 19.1% of Slovak students had depressive symptoms, which should be addressed. Using the PSS cut-off point ≥ 27, 12.9% of Czech students and 9.1% of Slovak students perceived high stress. The quantile regression analysis showed that Internet addiction was positively associated with anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, and stress in all of the analyzed cases (p-value < 0.001). In terms of study-related characteristics, the binomial logistic regression analysis revealed that risk factors for mental health problems in Czech and Slovak students were mainly full-time form of study and living away from home during the semester. Internet addiction, anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, and stress are issues that require increased attention, and professionals and policy-makers should implement interventions to effectively prevent and help students with psychological problems.
- MeSH
- COVID-19 * epidemiologie MeSH
- deprese epidemiologie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- netholismus epidemiologie MeSH
- pandemie * MeSH
- psychický stres epidemiologie MeSH
- studenti psychologie MeSH
- úzkost epidemiologie MeSH
- úzkostné poruchy epidemiologie MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic elicited huge stress responses in most world populations, and at this time psychotherapy is an important protective service against this stress. However, a somewhat neglected question is: How stressful was the COVID-19 outbreak for psychotherapists themselves? The main aim of the present study was to investigate whether dispositional resilience predicted the perceived stress reported by psychotherapists during the COVID-19 outbreak. A total of 338 psychotherapists organized within the national psychotherapy associations of three European countries (Czech Republic, Germany, and Slovakia) were included in this online study (mean age 46.7, 77.8% female, 22.2% male). The participants were administered the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). For the data analysis, nonparametric ANOVA and two-level (mixed-effect) linear regression models were used. Dispositional resilience significantly predicted the perceived stress reported by psychotherapists during the COVID-19 outbreak. Higher dispositional resilience significantly reduced the level of perceived stress among psychotherapists (adjusted β = -0.47, p < .001). Those with moderate resilience (between mean ± SD values) had a lower perceived stress score than those with low resilience (
- MeSH
- COVID-19 * MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- pandemie MeSH
- psychická odolnost * MeSH
- psychický stres epidemiologie MeSH
- psychoterapeuti MeSH
- psychoterapie MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
OBJECTIVE: To describe sex differences in the presentation, diagnosis, and revision of diagnosis after early brain MRI in patients who present with acute transient or minor neurologic events. METHODS: We performed a secondary analysis of a prospective multicenter cohort study of patients referred to neurology between 2010 and 2016 with a possible cerebrovascular event and evaluated with brain MRI within 8 days of symptom onset. Investigators documented the characteristics of the event, initial diagnosis, and final diagnosis. We used multivariable logistic regression analyses to evaluate the association between sex and outcomes. RESULTS: Among 1,028 patients (51% women, median age 63 years), more women than men reported headaches and fewer reported chest pain, but there were no sex differences in other accompanying symptoms. Women were more likely than men to be initially diagnosed with stroke mimic (54% of women vs 42% of men, adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.60, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.24-2.07), and women were overall less likely to have ischemia on MRI (10% vs 17%, OR 0.52, 95% CI 0.36-0.76). Among 496 patients initially diagnosed with mimic, women were less likely than men to have their diagnosis revised to minor stroke or TIA (13% vs 20%, OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.32-0.88) but were equally likely to have acute ischemia on MRI (5% vs 8%, OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.26-1.21). CONCLUSIONS: Stroke mimic was more frequently diagnosed in women than men, but diagnostic revisions were common in both. Early brain MRI is a useful addition to clinical evaluation in diagnosing transient or minor neurologic events.
- MeSH
- chybná diagnóza * MeSH
- diabetes mellitus epidemiologie MeSH
- diferenciální diagnóza * MeSH
- difuzní magnetická rezonance MeSH
- hyperlipidemie epidemiologie MeSH
- hypertenze epidemiologie MeSH
- ischemická cévní mozková příhoda diagnostické zobrazování epidemiologie patofyziologie MeSH
- ischemická choroba srdeční epidemiologie MeSH
- ischemie mozku diagnostické zobrazování epidemiologie patofyziologie MeSH
- kohortové studie MeSH
- komorbidita MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- logistické modely MeSH
- magnetická rezonanční tomografie MeSH
- migréna diagnóza epidemiologie MeSH
- mozek diagnostické zobrazování MeSH
- multivariační analýza MeSH
- prospektivní studie MeSH
- psychický stres epidemiologie MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- sexuální faktory MeSH
- somatoformní poruchy diagnóza MeSH
- stupeň závažnosti nemoci MeSH
- tranzitorní ischemická ataka diagnostické zobrazování epidemiologie patofyziologie MeSH
- úzkostné poruchy diagnóza MeSH
- vestibulární nemoci diagnóza MeSH
- záchvaty diagnóza MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
OBJECTIVES: Mental stress, low health literacy (HL) and nutrition literacy (NL) are associated with serious negative health outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate HL and NL levels, in relation to levels of perceived stress, in adults. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the urban area of the Attica region, Greece. The sample consisted of 1,281 individuals, aged ≥ 18 years. The European Health Literacy Questionnaire 47, the Greek version of the Nutrition Literacy Scale and the Perceived Stress Scale 14 were used. Socio-demographic characteristics were also assessed. Nonparametric Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests, Pearson chi-square and multiple linear regression models were used. RESULTS: The sample's perceived stress mean value (SD) was 26.47 (7.27) with women scoring statistically significantly higher than men. The mean HL and NL scores were 32.28 (8.28) and 22.11 (5.67), respectively. Linear regression analysis has shown that perceived stress was significantly negatively associated with HL (p < 0.001) but not with NL levels (p = 0.675) after adjusting for a series of confounding variables. CONCLUSIONS: Low health literacy seems to be very significantly associated with high levels of perceived stress. The reasons behind this association require further investigation.
- MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- nutriční stav MeSH
- průřezové studie MeSH
- průzkumy a dotazníky MeSH
- psychický stres epidemiologie MeSH
- zdravotní gramotnost * MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
