This study aimed to investigate factors associated with the symptoms of mental disorders following a road traffic crash (RTC). A prospective cohort of 200 people was followed for 6 months after experiencing an RTC. The cohort was comprised of uninjured survivors and injured victims with all levels of road traffic injury (RTI) severity. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the associations between the symptoms of depression, posttraumatic stress disorder and anxiety one and six months after the RTC, along with sociodemographic factors, health status before and after the RTC, factors related to the RTI and factors related to the RTC. The results showed associations of depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms with sociodemographic factors, factors related to the health status before and after the RTC and factors related to the RTC. Factors related to the RTI showed associations only with depression and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. Identifying factors associated with mental disorders following an RTC is essential for establishing screening of vulnerable individuals at risk of poor mental health outcomes after an RTC. All RTC survivors, regardless of their RTI status, should be screened for factors associated with mental disorders in order to successfully prevent them.

Specific personality traits may predispose individuals to various forms of addictive behaviors. This study aimed to investigate the association between personality traits of university students and Internet addiction (IA). A sample of 1051 university students was recruited from the largest university in Eastern Croatia. A structured anonymous questionnaire that included questions regarding students’ sociodemographic information and Internet usage patterns, the Young Internet Addiction Test and Big Five Inventory served as a research tool. The study revealed that 1.0% of the studied sample expressed severe IA while 24.6% of study participants expressed some signs of addiction. The IA was detected in 576 (80.0%) students who used the Internet mainly for social networking, in 30 (78.9%) students who mainly used it for online gaming, and in 153 (52.2%) students who mainly used it for university assignments (p < 0.001). Higher neuroticism, higher extraversion, and higher openness to new experiences were connected with IA in general (p < 0.001). Higher neuroticism, higher extraversion, and higher openness to new experiences were significantly associated with addictive behavior during social networking (p < 0.001). Higher extraversion and higher openness to new experiences were significantly associated with addictive behavior during Internet usage for university assignments (p = 0.025), while there were no significant associations between specific personality traits and addictive behavior during online gaming (p = 0.059). Personality traits must be taken into account while developing programs and implementing interventions for preventing IA in the university student population.

Background The COVID-19 pandemic as a worldwide public health issue is a traumatic event that has affected both the sleep and mental health of the general population. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of sleep in the Croatian adult population during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods This cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted from February to June 2021 period. A validated, anonymous questionnaire that contained questions regarding demographic data, as well as Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS) was self-administered to a convenient sample of Croatian adults from central and northwestern Croatia. Results The study sample included 939 subjects with, median age of 42 years (interquartile range 35-48), 35.4% males, and 64.6% females. At the PSQI 22.6% of subjects presented sleep disturbances while at the CAS 0.4% of subjects presented dysfunctional anxiety associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Sleep disturbances were more frequent among females (p &lt; 0.001), inhabitants of the Croatian capital Zagreb (p = 0.001), subjects who were not infected with COVID-19 virus (p = 0.042), subjects who had fear of coronavirus infection in the workplace (p &lt; 0.001), subjects who had fear of coronavirus infection during daily life activities (p &lt; 0.001), subjects who had fear of coronavirus infection during daily physical activities (p &lt; 0.001), subjects who worked with limited social contact (p = 0.005), and subjects with dysfunctional anxiety associated with the COVID-19 pandemic (p = 0.003). Conclusions Poor sleep quality is common during the COVID-19 pandemic in Croatia. Identifying factors associated with poor sleep would help develop specific intervention programs that enhance mental health and sleep quality during pandemics. Key messages • The COVID-19 pandemic has a significant negative influence on the mental health of the Croatian general population. • Appropriate supportive programs and interventional approaches directed toward the general population are needed to address mental health problems in Croatia during the COVID-19 pandemic.

IntroductionIt has been shown that various traumatic events, such as social isolation connected with the COVID-19 pandemic, can produce psychological distress and anxiety symptoms which negatively impact sleep quality.ObjectivesThis study aimed to investigate the influence of the COVID-19 preventive measures, especially social isolation, on sleep quality of the Croatian adult population during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsThis cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted from February to June 2021 period. A validated, anonymous questionnaire that contained questions regarding demographic data, as well as Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was self-administered to a convenient sample of Croatian adults from central and northwestern Croatia.ResultsThe study sample included 939 subjects with, median age of 42 years (interquartile range 35-48), 35.4% males, and 64.6% females. According to the PSQI there were 22.6% of subjects who presented sleep disturbances. Sleep disturbances were more frequent among females (p<0.001), inhabitants of the Croatian capital Zagreb (p=0.001), subjects who were not infected with COVID-19 virus (p=0.042), subjects who had fear of coronavirus infection in the workplace (p<0.001), subjects who had fear of coronavirus infection during daily life activities (p<0.001), subjects who had fear of coronavirus infection during daily physical activities (p<0.001) and subjects who worked with limited social contact (p=0.005).ConclusionsThe COVID-19 pandemic has a significant negative influence on the sleep quality of the Croatian general population. Development of appropriate supportive programs that enhance mental health and sleep quality during pandemics is needed to address mental health problems in Croatia during the ongoing pandemic.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared