Pub Date : 2025-11-17DOI: 10.1007/s44192-025-00313-3
Kyriakos Kintzoglanakis, Pavlos Kolias, Leonidas Pavlou-Skantzis, Panagiota Ntamka, Anastasios Malles, Ioannis Georgantzinos, Anastasia Vasiliki Tzina, Tatiana Themeli, Dimitrios S Karagiannakis
Objective: Discovering biological correlates of depression (and symptom dimensions) and anxiety is a topic of ongoing research. We aimed to examine the associations of uric acid (UA) and lipids with depression (sum and emotional, neurovegetative, cognitive dimension) and anxiety symptoms.
Methods: Participants were screened for depression and anxiety symptoms using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) questionnaires, respectively, in primary care in Greece during January-June 2022. Serum UA and lipids were recorded and socio-demographic, behavioral, and personal history covariates were also collected. Poisson regression analyses were performed to determine associations between recorded parameters and the PHQ-9 (sum-score and emotional, neurovegetative, cognitive dimension) and GAD-7 scores.
Results: A total of 181 individuals answered the questionnaires. The mean age was 61.8 ± 10.8 years, and 68% were female. The prevalence of clinically significant depression (PHQ-9 ≥ 10) and anxiety (GAD-7 ≥ 10) symptoms was 20.4%, respectively. PHQ-9 score was negatively associated with UA, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and income, and positively with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and physical activity. The neurovegetative dimension of the PHQ-9 score was negatively associated with UA and HDL-C, while the cognitive was positively associated with LDL-C. GAD-7 score was negatively associated with HDL-C and income, and positively with LDL-C and physical activity, while it was higher in females and smokers.
Conclusions: Both UA and lipids were associated with depression and anxiety symptoms. The neurovegetative and cognitive symptoms of depression exhibited different biological correlates with low UA and HDL-C, and high LDL-C, respectively.
{"title":"Associations of uric acid and lipids with depression, dimensions of depression and anxiety symptoms.","authors":"Kyriakos Kintzoglanakis, Pavlos Kolias, Leonidas Pavlou-Skantzis, Panagiota Ntamka, Anastasios Malles, Ioannis Georgantzinos, Anastasia Vasiliki Tzina, Tatiana Themeli, Dimitrios S Karagiannakis","doi":"10.1007/s44192-025-00313-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44192-025-00313-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Discovering biological correlates of depression (and symptom dimensions) and anxiety is a topic of ongoing research. We aimed to examine the associations of uric acid (UA) and lipids with depression (sum and emotional, neurovegetative, cognitive dimension) and anxiety symptoms.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Participants were screened for depression and anxiety symptoms using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) questionnaires, respectively, in primary care in Greece during January-June 2022. Serum UA and lipids were recorded and socio-demographic, behavioral, and personal history covariates were also collected. Poisson regression analyses were performed to determine associations between recorded parameters and the PHQ-9 (sum-score and emotional, neurovegetative, cognitive dimension) and GAD-7 scores.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 181 individuals answered the questionnaires. The mean age was 61.8 ± 10.8 years, and 68% were female. The prevalence of clinically significant depression (PHQ-9 ≥ 10) and anxiety (GAD-7 ≥ 10) symptoms was 20.4%, respectively. PHQ-9 score was negatively associated with UA, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and income, and positively with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and physical activity. The neurovegetative dimension of the PHQ-9 score was negatively associated with UA and HDL-C, while the cognitive was positively associated with LDL-C. GAD-7 score was negatively associated with HDL-C and income, and positively with LDL-C and physical activity, while it was higher in females and smokers.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Both UA and lipids were associated with depression and anxiety symptoms. The neurovegetative and cognitive symptoms of depression exhibited different biological correlates with low UA and HDL-C, and high LDL-C, respectively.</p>","PeriodicalId":72827,"journal":{"name":"Discover mental health","volume":"5 1","pages":"177"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12623528/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145544278","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-13DOI: 10.1007/s44192-025-00210-9
Qingdai Li, Mina Wang, Lin Liang, Jie Sun, Ningan Xiao, Jianhao Liu, Xin Du, Jing Wang, Yutong Ni, Yuanbo Fu
Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the mental health of medical workers worldwide. While extensive research has investigated pandemic-related mental health challenges, longitudinal analyses of temporal trends remain scarce. This study employs a cross-sectional design to compare mental health outcomes among medical workers in Beijing's Mobile Cabin Hospitals during the Early-Pandemic Era (2020) and Post-Pandemic Era (2022), with a focus on occupational disparities.
Methods: This study utilized a cross-sectional design to compare mental health outcomes among medical workers in Beijing's Mobile Cabin Hospitals during two distinct pandemic phases. Data were collected through anonymized online surveys administered via Wenjuanxing. The questionnaire comprised three domains: demographic characteristics, professional roles within departments and the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). Emotional distress was operationally defined as a GHQ-12 total score ≥ 4.
Results: Comparative analysis revealed a significant deterioration in mental health outcomes among medical workers during the Post-Pandemic Era compared to the Early-Pandemic Era. The prevalence of emotional distress (GHQ-12 ≥ 4) remained elevated across specific subgroups: medical workers aged 30-39 years, married, working as doctors and other professionals. Statistically significant interphase differences emerged in vulnerable populations, including female (P < 0.001), unmarried (P = 0.004), worked with nurses (P = 0.003) and other professionals (P = 0.021), and aged less than 40 years (< 30 years old, P = 0.009; 30-39 years old, P = 0.021). Qualitative symptom profiling indicated that more people reported clinically meaningful manifestations of psychological distress, characterized by depressive symptoms, anxiety, diminished self-worth, and impaired coping capacity during adversity.
Conclusion: The cumulative burden of prolonged pandemic has demonstrably exacerbated mental health deterioration among medical workers. These findings underscore the critical need to sustainably safeguard the mental health of medical workers in future public health crises.
{"title":"A cross-sectional study on the comparison of psychological impact among medical staff before and after COVID-19.","authors":"Qingdai Li, Mina Wang, Lin Liang, Jie Sun, Ningan Xiao, Jianhao Liu, Xin Du, Jing Wang, Yutong Ni, Yuanbo Fu","doi":"10.1007/s44192-025-00210-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44192-025-00210-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the mental health of medical workers worldwide. While extensive research has investigated pandemic-related mental health challenges, longitudinal analyses of temporal trends remain scarce. This study employs a cross-sectional design to compare mental health outcomes among medical workers in Beijing's Mobile Cabin Hospitals during the Early-Pandemic Era (2020) and Post-Pandemic Era (2022), with a focus on occupational disparities.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study utilized a cross-sectional design to compare mental health outcomes among medical workers in Beijing's Mobile Cabin Hospitals during two distinct pandemic phases. Data were collected through anonymized online surveys administered via Wenjuanxing. The questionnaire comprised three domains: demographic characteristics, professional roles within departments and the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). Emotional distress was operationally defined as a GHQ-12 total score ≥ 4.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Comparative analysis revealed a significant deterioration in mental health outcomes among medical workers during the Post-Pandemic Era compared to the Early-Pandemic Era. The prevalence of emotional distress (GHQ-12 ≥ 4) remained elevated across specific subgroups: medical workers aged 30-39 years, married, working as doctors and other professionals. Statistically significant interphase differences emerged in vulnerable populations, including female (P < 0.001), unmarried (P = 0.004), worked with nurses (P = 0.003) and other professionals (P = 0.021), and aged less than 40 years (< 30 years old, P = 0.009; 30-39 years old, P = 0.021). Qualitative symptom profiling indicated that more people reported clinically meaningful manifestations of psychological distress, characterized by depressive symptoms, anxiety, diminished self-worth, and impaired coping capacity during adversity.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The cumulative burden of prolonged pandemic has demonstrably exacerbated mental health deterioration among medical workers. These findings underscore the critical need to sustainably safeguard the mental health of medical workers in future public health crises.</p>","PeriodicalId":72827,"journal":{"name":"Discover mental health","volume":"5 1","pages":"176"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12615877/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145508285","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-13DOI: 10.1007/s44192-025-00295-2
Saranya Ts, Kiniholi Yepthomi
This systematic review examines how cultural constructs of distress and the phenomenon of lycanthropy are understood within the context of Nagaland, emphasizing a social constructivist framework. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across Google Scholar, PubMed, and PsycINFO, ultimately shortlisting 24 methodologically sound studies relevant to cultural interpretations of mental health. Data extraction focused on themes such as spiritual beliefs, indigenous healing practices, the cultural framing of lycanthropy, and the role of modernization in shaping local perceptions of distress. Findings indicate that Nagaland's cultural narratives and communal belief systems strongly influence how distress is experienced, conceptualized, and addressed. Lycanthropy, often perceived as a delusional disorder in Western psychiatry, is regarded by many communities in Nagaland as a spiritual affliction or culturally rooted manifestation of distress. Moreover, traditional healers and ritual practices continue to play a critical role in managing mental health concerns, even as modern psychiatric approaches gain visibility. By highlighting the intersection of cultural beliefs, supernatural interpretations, and communal coping strategies, this review emphasizes the importance of integrating indigenous perspectives with contemporary mental health care. Such culturally sensitive, hybrid interventions can bridge long standing traditions with modern practices, ultimately fostering more holistic and effective approaches to mental well-being in Nagaland.
{"title":"Social constructivist analysis of cultural concepts of distress and lycanthropy in Nagaland India.","authors":"Saranya Ts, Kiniholi Yepthomi","doi":"10.1007/s44192-025-00295-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44192-025-00295-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This systematic review examines how cultural constructs of distress and the phenomenon of lycanthropy are understood within the context of Nagaland, emphasizing a social constructivist framework. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across Google Scholar, PubMed, and PsycINFO, ultimately shortlisting 24 methodologically sound studies relevant to cultural interpretations of mental health. Data extraction focused on themes such as spiritual beliefs, indigenous healing practices, the cultural framing of lycanthropy, and the role of modernization in shaping local perceptions of distress. Findings indicate that Nagaland's cultural narratives and communal belief systems strongly influence how distress is experienced, conceptualized, and addressed. Lycanthropy, often perceived as a delusional disorder in Western psychiatry, is regarded by many communities in Nagaland as a spiritual affliction or culturally rooted manifestation of distress. Moreover, traditional healers and ritual practices continue to play a critical role in managing mental health concerns, even as modern psychiatric approaches gain visibility. By highlighting the intersection of cultural beliefs, supernatural interpretations, and communal coping strategies, this review emphasizes the importance of integrating indigenous perspectives with contemporary mental health care. Such culturally sensitive, hybrid interventions can bridge long standing traditions with modern practices, ultimately fostering more holistic and effective approaches to mental well-being in Nagaland.</p>","PeriodicalId":72827,"journal":{"name":"Discover mental health","volume":"5 1","pages":"174"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12615855/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145508319","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-10DOI: 10.1007/s44192-025-00310-6
S James Robert, S Kadhiravan
Digital amnesia refers to the phenomenon where people tend to forget information that they store digitally, and relying heavily on digital devices to remember the information. The ease of access to digital devices may encourage digital dependence, which could lead to digital amnesia. This study provides a preliminary understanding of the association between digital intelligence and digital amnesia among college students and the moderating role of gender in the relationship. This cross-sectional study has employed a stratified random sampling technique to recruit 1265 students via the survey method. The results revealed a significant negative association between digital amnesia and digital intelligence. Findings also indicated that males reported having higher level of digital amnesia, and females reported higher level of digital intelligence. Furthermore, gender played a significant moderator role between digital amnesia and digital intelligence. Overall, this study has provided a novel finding of the moderating role of gender in relationship between digital amnesia and digital intelligence in the Indian context. Furthermore, the scores of digital amnesia in this study raise a concern over the effectiveness of current sex education in India. The scores may underscore the need for educational initiatives that address the adverse effects of digital amnesia and emphasize the importance of promoting digital intelligence.
{"title":"The moderating effect of gender on the relationship between digital intelligence and digital amnesia.","authors":"S James Robert, S Kadhiravan","doi":"10.1007/s44192-025-00310-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44192-025-00310-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Digital amnesia refers to the phenomenon where people tend to forget information that they store digitally, and relying heavily on digital devices to remember the information. The ease of access to digital devices may encourage digital dependence, which could lead to digital amnesia. This study provides a preliminary understanding of the association between digital intelligence and digital amnesia among college students and the moderating role of gender in the relationship. This cross-sectional study has employed a stratified random sampling technique to recruit 1265 students via the survey method. The results revealed a significant negative association between digital amnesia and digital intelligence. Findings also indicated that males reported having higher level of digital amnesia, and females reported higher level of digital intelligence. Furthermore, gender played a significant moderator role between digital amnesia and digital intelligence. Overall, this study has provided a novel finding of the moderating role of gender in relationship between digital amnesia and digital intelligence in the Indian context. Furthermore, the scores of digital amnesia in this study raise a concern over the effectiveness of current sex education in India. The scores may underscore the need for educational initiatives that address the adverse effects of digital amnesia and emphasize the importance of promoting digital intelligence.</p>","PeriodicalId":72827,"journal":{"name":"Discover mental health","volume":"5 1","pages":"173"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12602757/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145483958","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-10DOI: 10.1007/s44192-025-00300-8
Tang Yi-Ting, Liew Jia Xian, Chooi Weng-Tink
Eating disorders are a growing concern in adolescent mental health globally, including in middle-income countries. Understanding risk factors across developmental stages is crucial for effective prevention and intervention. This study examined how body mass index (BMI), body dissatisfaction (BD), and anxiety contribute to binge eating (BE) and eating disorder (ED) psychopathology in Malaysian female adolescents and young adults, and to investigate BE as a potential mediator. Sample 1 of 398 16-year-old girls and Sample 2 of 169 female university students, aged 18-25 (Mage = 22.15, SD = 1.22), completed self-report measures assessing BD, state anxiety, trait anxiety, binge eating symptoms, and ED psychopathology, and reported their weights and heights. Relationships between variables and test mediation effects were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Both models revealed direct effects of BMI and BD on BE and ED psychopathology. BE mediated the paths from BMI, BD, and state anxiety to ED psychopathology. Trait anxiety was not supported as a shared risk factor. The models showed high similarity across both age groups. The findings suggest similar vulnerability to maladaptive eating behaviors among female youths in both developmental stages, highlighting the robustness of BD as a risk factor. The study provides insights into the development of eating disorders in a non-Western context, contributing to the global understanding of adolescent mental health. The study highlights the need for culturally sensitive, early interventions in middle-income countries to address the rising prevalence of eating disorders.
{"title":"Body dissatisfaction and anxiety predict binge eating and eating disorder psychopathology in Malaysian adolescent girls and young women.","authors":"Tang Yi-Ting, Liew Jia Xian, Chooi Weng-Tink","doi":"10.1007/s44192-025-00300-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44192-025-00300-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Eating disorders are a growing concern in adolescent mental health globally, including in middle-income countries. Understanding risk factors across developmental stages is crucial for effective prevention and intervention. This study examined how body mass index (BMI), body dissatisfaction (BD), and anxiety contribute to binge eating (BE) and eating disorder (ED) psychopathology in Malaysian female adolescents and young adults, and to investigate BE as a potential mediator. Sample 1 of 398 16-year-old girls and Sample 2 of 169 female university students, aged 18-25 (M<sub>age</sub> = 22.15, SD = 1.22), completed self-report measures assessing BD, state anxiety, trait anxiety, binge eating symptoms, and ED psychopathology, and reported their weights and heights. Relationships between variables and test mediation effects were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Both models revealed direct effects of BMI and BD on BE and ED psychopathology. BE mediated the paths from BMI, BD, and state anxiety to ED psychopathology. Trait anxiety was not supported as a shared risk factor. The models showed high similarity across both age groups. The findings suggest similar vulnerability to maladaptive eating behaviors among female youths in both developmental stages, highlighting the robustness of BD as a risk factor. The study provides insights into the development of eating disorders in a non-Western context, contributing to the global understanding of adolescent mental health. The study highlights the need for culturally sensitive, early interventions in middle-income countries to address the rising prevalence of eating disorders.</p>","PeriodicalId":72827,"journal":{"name":"Discover mental health","volume":"5 1","pages":"171"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12602747/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145483973","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-10DOI: 10.1007/s44192-025-00294-3
Tsholofelo Virginia Modise, Olebogeng Aurica Tladi-Mapefane, Frans Koketso Matlakala
Motherhood plays a vital role in shaping a woman's identity and her ability to provide essential nurturing to her child. However, in the twenty-first century, social workers have observed an increase in mothers practising distance parenting due to labour migration, which poses a significant threat to the establishment and maintenance of mother-child relationships. This article explores the psychological challenges faced by young mothers practising distance parenting in Geelhoupark Rustenburg, North-West province, South Africa. This study employed a qualitative research approach and an exploratory case study design. A total of 12 participants from Geelhoutpark were selected using a purposive-sampling technique. Interviews were conducted using Microsoft Teams, guided by a structured interview schedule. The data was thematically analysed. The study found that young working mothers often experience feelings of guilt and failure as they believe that society placed high demands on them. Due to the society's expectations and personal-level emotional reactions to the absence of their children, young working mothers felt emotionally distressed, sad, as well as self-doubting their motherhood capabilities. The study concludes that young working mothers face significant psychological challenges, which are often worsened by societal expectations. Future studies can further examine both the psychological and social challenges experienced by young mothers practising distance parenting.
{"title":"Psychological challenges of distance parenting among young working mothers.","authors":"Tsholofelo Virginia Modise, Olebogeng Aurica Tladi-Mapefane, Frans Koketso Matlakala","doi":"10.1007/s44192-025-00294-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44192-025-00294-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Motherhood plays a vital role in shaping a woman's identity and her ability to provide essential nurturing to her child. However, in the twenty-first century, social workers have observed an increase in mothers practising distance parenting due to labour migration, which poses a significant threat to the establishment and maintenance of mother-child relationships. This article explores the psychological challenges faced by young mothers practising distance parenting in Geelhoupark Rustenburg, North-West province, South Africa. This study employed a qualitative research approach and an exploratory case study design. A total of 12 participants from Geelhoutpark were selected using a purposive-sampling technique. Interviews were conducted using Microsoft Teams, guided by a structured interview schedule. The data was thematically analysed. The study found that young working mothers often experience feelings of guilt and failure as they believe that society placed high demands on them. Due to the society's expectations and personal-level emotional reactions to the absence of their children, young working mothers felt emotionally distressed, sad, as well as self-doubting their motherhood capabilities. The study concludes that young working mothers face significant psychological challenges, which are often worsened by societal expectations. Future studies can further examine both the psychological and social challenges experienced by young mothers practising distance parenting.</p>","PeriodicalId":72827,"journal":{"name":"Discover mental health","volume":"5 1","pages":"172"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12602762/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145483908","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Introduction: Sex differences in the psychological burden of the COVID-19 pandemic are of particular interest among Iranian healthcare workers (HCWs), given the distinct cultural and societal roles of Iranian women compared to their Western counterparts. This study aimed to assess the sex disparities in psychological symptoms-including anxiety, perceived stress, and depression-among Iranian HCWs.
Methods: In this multicenter cross-sectional study, participants were recruited from four different hospitals and community health centers in Babol, northern Iran. Data were collected using grouped, validated psychological and behavioral scales.
Results: Female HCWs reported significantly higher levels of perceived stress and anxiety than males (P = 0.001), while no significant sex differences were observed for depression, overall health-promoting lifestyle scores, self-efficacy, or self-esteem. However, males exhibited significantly higher levels of physical activity than females in the HPL subscale. After adjusting for potential confounders, the mean differences in perceived stress and anxiety scores between women and men were β = 2.32 (95% CI: 0.95-3.68, P = 0.001) and β = 1.72 (95% CI: 0.56-2.88, P = 0.004), respectively.
Conclusion: This study reveals a significant sex disparity in psychological outcomes, particularly in perceived stress and anxiety, with female HCWs experiencing a greater burden than males during the COVID-19 pandemic. Supportive interventions targeting the mental health of healthcare workers are therefore necessary.
导语:鉴于伊朗妇女与西方同行相比具有独特的文化和社会角色,伊朗卫生保健工作者(HCWs)对COVID-19大流行心理负担的性别差异特别感兴趣。本研究旨在评估伊朗医护人员心理症状(包括焦虑、感知压力和抑郁)的性别差异。方法:在这项多中心横断面研究中,参与者从伊朗北部巴博勒的四家不同的医院和社区卫生中心招募。采用分组、有效的心理和行为量表收集数据。结果:女性医护人员报告的感知压力和焦虑水平明显高于男性(P = 0.001),而在抑郁、总体健康促进生活方式评分、自我效能感或自尊方面没有观察到显著的性别差异。然而,在HPL亚量表中,男性的身体活动水平明显高于女性。在调整潜在混杂因素后,男女之间感知压力和焦虑评分的平均差异分别为β = 2.32 (95% CI: 0.95-3.68, P = 0.001)和β = 1.72 (95% CI: 0.56-2.88, P = 0.004)。结论:本研究揭示了心理结果的显著性别差异,特别是在感知压力和焦虑方面,女性医护人员在COVID-19大流行期间比男性承受更大的负担。因此,有必要针对卫生保健工作者的心理健康采取支持性干预措施。
{"title":"Sex differences in psychological impact on healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.","authors":"Erfaneh Hajian-Tilaki, Karimollah Hajian-Tilaki, Maryam Nikpour","doi":"10.1007/s44192-025-00305-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44192-025-00305-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Sex differences in the psychological burden of the COVID-19 pandemic are of particular interest among Iranian healthcare workers (HCWs), given the distinct cultural and societal roles of Iranian women compared to their Western counterparts. This study aimed to assess the sex disparities in psychological symptoms-including anxiety, perceived stress, and depression-among Iranian HCWs.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this multicenter cross-sectional study, participants were recruited from four different hospitals and community health centers in Babol, northern Iran. Data were collected using grouped, validated psychological and behavioral scales.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Female HCWs reported significantly higher levels of perceived stress and anxiety than males (P = 0.001), while no significant sex differences were observed for depression, overall health-promoting lifestyle scores, self-efficacy, or self-esteem. However, males exhibited significantly higher levels of physical activity than females in the HPL subscale. After adjusting for potential confounders, the mean differences in perceived stress and anxiety scores between women and men were β = 2.32 (95% CI: 0.95-3.68, P = 0.001) and β = 1.72 (95% CI: 0.56-2.88, P = 0.004), respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study reveals a significant sex disparity in psychological outcomes, particularly in perceived stress and anxiety, with female HCWs experiencing a greater burden than males during the COVID-19 pandemic. Supportive interventions targeting the mental health of healthcare workers are therefore necessary.</p>","PeriodicalId":72827,"journal":{"name":"Discover mental health","volume":"5 1","pages":"169"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12592575/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145454165","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-06DOI: 10.1007/s44192-025-00164-y
Sandra Fremah Asare, Samuel Adjorlolo, Petra Brysiewicz
Background: Primary antenatal care providers are seen as instrumental in shaping healthy pregnancy outcomes. However, there are organizational and system-level barriers that hinder the needed support for mental health care among pregnant women and there remains a dearth of research exploring the specific challenges and opportunities encountered by clinicians in providing mental health support to pregnant women with common mental disorders (CMDs) in the prenatal period.
Aim: This study explored clinicians' (obstetric providers) perspectives in managing CMDs among women during the prenatal period.
Methods: This study employed a qualitative exploratory design. Twelve interviews were conducted with clinicians (doctors and midwives) working in primary care settings, guided by a semi-structured interview guide. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.
Results: Managing CMDs in pregnancy was described as not a priority as illustrated in five categories: many warning signs, relying on own experiences, no time, overwhelmed in a role, and working with families.
Conclusions: This study's findings suggest that primary healthcare obstetric practice does not have the required training in mental health among clinicians to screen and treat for CMDs in pregnant women in Ghana. Therefore, healthcare facilities must prioritize the integration of mental health services within routine obstetric care, ensuring that pregnant women have access to comprehensive mental health interventions alongside their routine antenatal care.
{"title":"Clinicians' perspectives of managing common mental disorders among pregnant women in primary care settings: a qualitative exploratory study.","authors":"Sandra Fremah Asare, Samuel Adjorlolo, Petra Brysiewicz","doi":"10.1007/s44192-025-00164-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44192-025-00164-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Primary antenatal care providers are seen as instrumental in shaping healthy pregnancy outcomes. However, there are organizational and system-level barriers that hinder the needed support for mental health care among pregnant women and there remains a dearth of research exploring the specific challenges and opportunities encountered by clinicians in providing mental health support to pregnant women with common mental disorders (CMDs) in the prenatal period.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>This study explored clinicians' (obstetric providers) perspectives in managing CMDs among women during the prenatal period.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study employed a qualitative exploratory design. Twelve interviews were conducted with clinicians (doctors and midwives) working in primary care settings, guided by a semi-structured interview guide. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Managing CMDs in pregnancy was described as not a priority as illustrated in five categories: many warning signs, relying on own experiences, no time, overwhelmed in a role, and working with families.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study's findings suggest that primary healthcare obstetric practice does not have the required training in mental health among clinicians to screen and treat for CMDs in pregnant women in Ghana. Therefore, healthcare facilities must prioritize the integration of mental health services within routine obstetric care, ensuring that pregnant women have access to comprehensive mental health interventions alongside their routine antenatal care.</p>","PeriodicalId":72827,"journal":{"name":"Discover mental health","volume":"5 1","pages":"170"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12592609/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145454197","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-03DOI: 10.1007/s44192-025-00293-4
Truong Vuong Vu, Bao-Tran Nguyen-Duong, Ha Thi Thu Le, Tuan Van Nguyen, Vy Truc Le
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are known as risk factors that contribute to mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, and stress in adulthood. Notably, the specific mechanisms underlying this association have been identified in only a limited number of studies. The present study aimed to explore the relationship between ACEs, psychological flexibility (PF), and mental health (anxiety, stress, and depression) in college students. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 302 college students in southern Vietnam. The data were analyzed using PLS-SEM to examine the relationship among the variables, and T-tests and One-way ANOVA in SPSS were employed to explore group differences. The results showed that PF functioned as a mediating factor in the pathway from ACEs to mental health. In addition, we found significant gender differences in PF, differences in mental health problems based on sources of emotional support, and differences in depression levels across religions. These findings provide valuable insights for both research and clinical practice in Vietnam, by highlighting PF as a crucial factor for future mental health interventions.
{"title":"The mediating role of psychological flexibility in the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress among Vietnamese college students.","authors":"Truong Vuong Vu, Bao-Tran Nguyen-Duong, Ha Thi Thu Le, Tuan Van Nguyen, Vy Truc Le","doi":"10.1007/s44192-025-00293-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44192-025-00293-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are known as risk factors that contribute to mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, and stress in adulthood. Notably, the specific mechanisms underlying this association have been identified in only a limited number of studies. The present study aimed to explore the relationship between ACEs, psychological flexibility (PF), and mental health (anxiety, stress, and depression) in college students. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 302 college students in southern Vietnam. The data were analyzed using PLS-SEM to examine the relationship among the variables, and T-tests and One-way ANOVA in SPSS were employed to explore group differences. The results showed that PF functioned as a mediating factor in the pathway from ACEs to mental health. In addition, we found significant gender differences in PF, differences in mental health problems based on sources of emotional support, and differences in depression levels across religions. These findings provide valuable insights for both research and clinical practice in Vietnam, by highlighting PF as a crucial factor for future mental health interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":72827,"journal":{"name":"Discover mental health","volume":"5 1","pages":"168"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12583429/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145439423","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}