Christian Rauschenberg1,2, Anita Schick1, Christian Goetzl3, Susanne Roehr4, Steffi G Riedel-Heller4, Georgia Koppe5,6, Daniel Durstewitz5, Silvia Krumm3, Ulrich Reininghaus1,7,8. 1. Department of Public Mental Health, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany. 2. Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands. 3. Department of Psychiatry II, University of Ulm and BKH Guenzburg, Ulm, Germany. 4. Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health (ISAP), Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany. 5. Department of Theoretical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany. 6. Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany. 7. Centre for Epidemiology and Public Health, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom. 8. ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Public health measures to curb SARS-CoV-2 transmission rates may have negative psychosocial consequences in youth. Digital interventions may help to mitigate these effects. We investigated the associations between social isolation, COVID-19-related cognitive preoccupation, worries, and anxiety, objective social risk indicators, and psychological distress, as well as use of, and attitude toward, mobile health (mHealth) interventions in youth. METHODS: Data were collected as part of the "Mental Health And Innovation During COVID-19 Survey"-a cross-sectional panel study including a representative sample of individuals aged 16-25 years (N = 666; Mage = 21.3; assessment period: May 5, 2020 to May 16, 2020). RESULTS: Overall, 38% of youth met criteria for moderate or severe psychological distress. Social isolation worries and anxiety, and objective risk indicators were associated with psychological distress, with evidence of dose-response relationships for some of these associations. For instance, psychological distress was progressively more likely to occur as levels of social isolation increased (reporting "never" as reference group: "occasionally": adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 9.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.3-19.1, p < 0.001; "often": aOR 22.2, CI 9.8-50.2, p < 0.001; "very often": aOR 42.3, CI 14.1-126.8, p < 0.001). There was evidence that psychological distress, worries, and anxiety were associated with a positive attitude toward using mHealth interventions, whereas psychological distress, worries, and anxiety were associated with actual use. CONCLUSIONS: Public health measures during pandemics may be associated with poor mental health outcomes in youth. Evidence-based digital interventions may help mitigate the negative psychosocial impact without risk of viral infection given there is an objective need and subjective demand.
BACKGROUND: Public health measures to curb SARS-CoV-2 transmission rates may have negative psychosocial consequences in youth. Digital interventions may help to mitigate these effects. We investigated the associations between social isolation, COVID-19-related cognitive preoccupation, worries, and anxiety, objective social risk indicators, and psychological distress, as well as use of, and attitude toward, mobile health (mHealth) interventions in youth. METHODS: Data were collected as part of the "Mental Health And Innovation During COVID-19 Survey"-a cross-sectional panel study including a representative sample of individuals aged 16-25 years (N = 666; Mage = 21.3; assessment period: May 5, 2020 to May 16, 2020). RESULTS: Overall, 38% of youth met criteria for moderate or severe psychological distress. Social isolation worries and anxiety, and objective risk indicators were associated with psychological distress, with evidence of dose-response relationships for some of these associations. For instance, psychological distress was progressively more likely to occur as levels of social isolation increased (reporting "never" as reference group: "occasionally": adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 9.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.3-19.1, p < 0.001; "often": aOR 22.2, CI 9.8-50.2, p < 0.001; "very often": aOR 42.3, CI 14.1-126.8, p < 0.001). There was evidence that psychological distress, worries, and anxiety were associated with a positive attitude toward using mHealth interventions, whereas psychological distress, worries, and anxiety were associated with actual use. CONCLUSIONS: Public health measures during pandemics may be associated with poor mental health outcomes in youth. Evidence-based digital interventions may help mitigate the negative psychosocial impact without risk of viral infection given there is an objective need and subjective demand.
Entities:
Keywords:
COVID-19; Social isolation; Social risk; Youth mental health; mHealth
Authors: Ellie Brown; Richard Gray; Samantha Lo Monaco; Brian O'Donoghue; Barnaby Nelson; Andrew Thompson; Shona Francey; Pat McGorry Journal: Schizophr Res Date: 2020-05-06 Impact factor: 4.939
Authors: Christian Rauschenberg; Dusan Hirjak; Thomas Ganslandt; Julia C C Schulte-Strathaus; Anita Schick; Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg; Ulrich Reininghaus Journal: Nervenarzt Date: 2021-03-17 Impact factor: 1.214
Authors: Christian Rauschenberg; Anita Schick; Dusan Hirjak; Andreas Seidler; Isabell Paetzold; Christian Apfelbacher; Steffi G Riedel-Heller; Ulrich Reininghaus Journal: J Med Internet Res Date: 2021-03-10 Impact factor: 5.428
Authors: Christian Rauschenberg; Dusan Hirjak; Thomas Ganslandt; Julia C C Schulte-Strathaus; Anita Schick; Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg; Ulrich Reininghaus Journal: Nervenarzt Date: 2021-03-17 Impact factor: 1.214
Authors: Chantal D Tan; Eveline K Lutgert; Sarah Neill; Rachel Carter; Ray B Jones; Jade Chynoweth; Dorine M Borensztajn; Monica Lakhanpaul; Henriette A Moll Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2021-12-02 Impact factor: 2.692
Authors: Heather A Shepherd; Taffin Evans; Srijal Gupta; Meghan H McDonough; Patricia Doyle-Baker; Kathy L Belton; Shazya Karmali; Samantha Pawer; Gabrielle Hadly; Ian Pike; Stephanie A Adams; Shelina Babul; Keith Owen Yeates; Daniel C Kopala-Sibley; Kathryn J Schneider; Stephanie Cowle; Pamela Fuselli; Carolyn A Emery; Amanda M Black Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-03-29 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Anita Schick; Isabell Paetzold; Christian Rauschenberg; Dusan Hirjak; Tobias Banaschewski; Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg; Jan R Boehnke; Benjamin Boecking; Ulrich Reininghaus Journal: JMIR Res Protoc Date: 2021-12-03