The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has had profound consequences on collective mental health and well-being, and yet, older adults appear better off than younger adults. The current study examined mental health impacts of the pandemic across adult age groups in a large sample (n = 5,320) of Canadians using multiple hierarchical regression analyses. Results suggest older adults are experiencing better mental health and more social connectedness relative to younger adults. Loneliness predicted negative mental health outcomes across all age groups, while the negative association between social support and mental health was only significant at average and high levels of loneliness in the 65–69 age group. Results point towards differential mental health impacts of the pandemic across adult age groups and indicate that loneliness and social support may be key intervention targets during the COVID-19 pandemic. Future research should further examine mechanisms of resiliency among older Canadian adults during the pandemic.
Objective: There is a limited understanding of the unique components of negative affect that are most important to disordered eating. Our study tested the contributions and stabilities of unique components of negative affect in the frequency of both binge eating and restricted eating. We examined if: (1) symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress share unique, concurrent associations with binge eating and restricted eating, respectively, and if (2) instability of depression, anxiety, and stress predict binge eating and restricted eating, respectively.Method: 627 first year undergraduate students completed 7 assessments of these constructs across their first academic year. Generalised multilevel modelling was employed.Results: Higher than average anxiety, but not depression or stress, was concurrently associated with restricted eating. No concurrent associations between negative affect and binge eating were found. Instability of depression, but not anxiety or stress, predicted both binge and restricted eating. Conclusion: Anxiety may be a more salient predictor of restricted eating than depression or stress. However, larger monthly changes in depression may confer risk for more frequent binge eating and restricted eating.
This chapter focuses on the use of fine-grained assessment approaches in nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) research. Fine-grained assessment has enabled researchers to collect near real-time information about the proximal precipitants, consequences, and correlates of NSSI; test theoretical models in ecologically valid contexts; and further our understanding of the temporal sequencing of NSSI-related events. The chapter begins by discussing the need to balance benefits against the potential costs in the context of choosing the frequency, timing, and duration of study assessments, as well as measurement strategies for NSSI and other variables. It then considers some of the unique ethical and technical challenges that are inherent within fine-grained assessment studies. The chapter also offers recommendations for maximizing participant compliance and retention, navigating technological challenges, limiting recruitment or selection biases, and implementing effective risk assessments. Finally, this chapter explores frontiers in the area of fine-grained NSSI assessment, providing recommendations for future work and summarizing potential clinical applications of these methods.
The aim of the study is to describe mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and identify roles that predict distress among Canadian healthcare workers (HCWs). Methods: Using data from three cross-sectional Canadian surveys, we compared 799 HCWs to demographically matched controls and compared HCWs with and without COVID-19 patient contact. Participants completed validated measures of depression, anxiety, trauma-related stress, alcohol problems, coping self-efficacy, and sleep quality. Results: Non-HCWs reported more depression and anxiety in Fall 2020 and more alcohol problems in Fall/Winter 2021 than HCWs. In Winter 2020-2021, HCWs reported more trauma-related stress than non-HCWs. As of early 2021, HCWs with direct patient contact reported worse symptoms across nearly all measures than HCWs without. Conclusions: Although Canadian HCWs did not report worse mental health than demographically similar peers, mental health supports are needed for HCWs providing direct patient care.
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