Psychosocial stress and risk assessment during the COVID-19 pandemic: Some preliminary thoughts

Human life and activities are associated with risk, as risk is inherent in all forms of human existence and action. Risk is regarded as a phenomenological variable considering how people perceive it, especially during a crisis they experience. This paper discusses the characteristics of human behavior in a crisis, with an emphasis on hazard perception and risk assessment, for the purpose of understanding people’s decisions and adaptation before, during, and after a crisis. The discussion focuses on the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic

Stress and life satisfaction among alcohol addicts

Objective. The aim of the study was to determine the level of stress and life satisfaction in alcohol addicts, i.e., to examine whether respondents diagnosed with alcohol dependence (F10.2) differ according to the level ofstress and life satisfaction in comparison to respondents from the general population. Methods. The research was designed as a non-experimental, observational cross-sectional study, and was conducted in the period from January to July 2021, at the University Clinical Center Kragujevac. The sample consisted of 80 subjects of both sexes, aged 22 to 36 years, divided into two groups: the clinical group (subjects diagnosed with alcohol dependence - F10.2) and the control group of subjects without psychiatric illness. Results. The study has shown that alcohol addicts have clinically significant and severe symptoms of stress, as well as that stress symptoms were positively correlated with alcoholism, and negatively with life satisfaction. In our sample, the association between stress and life satisfaction in addicts was very negative and very significant (r = - 0.645, p <0.001). In the clinical group of alcohol addicts, a very strong correlation was found (r = - 0.907, p <0.001), while in the control group there was a moderate correlation (r = - 0.315, p <0.05). No statistically significant correlation of stress was found with marital status, as well as with work status, level of education or religious beliefs. Conclusion. In our study, it was found that higher values of stress and lower values of life satisfaction are predictive values for the possibility of alcohol dependence. These findings can be used as an auxiliary tool for orientation assessment as part of establishing the diagnosis of alcohol dependence, as well as for a better understanding of the stress phenomenon in the clinical population of alcohol addicts in our country.Publishe

Post-COVID-19 and Mental Health

Beginning with its emergence in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a pandemic that causes COVID-19, has spread and left profound consequences on the lives and health of people around the world. Although most patients who have COVID-19 recover after two to six weeks, research shows that 10–30% of people who have had COVID-19, even with a mild clinical picture, remain with persistent symptoms that have a devastating effect on their quality of life. These symptoms, which most often include fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain, headache, and cognitive dysfunction, but also others that generally have an impact on everyday functioning, are recognized as a clinical condition called post-COVID syndrome (long COVID). In addition to physical disabilities in people recovering from COVID-19, mental health problems have also been observed, including problems with concentration (“brain fog”), anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In this chapter, we provide a comprehensive review of the current scientific findings identifying post-COVID conditions and their relationship with mental health status

Depression, anxiety and stress among alcohol addicts

Objective. The aim of the study was to examine the level of depression, anxiety and stress in alcohol addicts, i.e. to determine differences in the level of depression, anxiety and stress between the group of subjects diagnosed with F10.1 and the group of subjects diagnosed with F10.2, as well as to determine differences in sociodemographic characteristics and health status between the groups of subjects diagnosed with F10.1 and F10.2. Methods. Our study was designed as a non-experimental, observational cross-sectional study. It was conducted at the University Clinical Centre Kragujevac in the Clinic for Psychiatry, during January 2021. The sample consisted of 110 respondents of both sexes, aged 18 to 65, divided into two groups. The first group consisted of subjects diagnosed with alcohol dependence (F10.2), and the second group consisted of subjects diagnosed with alcohol abuse (F10.1). Results. Our study has shown that alcohol addicts have clinically significant and severe symptoms of depression, that symptoms were positively correlated with stress levels, and that short-term stress of milder intensity was associated with occasional alcohol abuse, while prolonged stress was a predictor of alcohol dependence. No statistically significant association of alcohol dependence and alcohol abuse with anxiety was found. It was also found that alcohol dependence is associated with certain sociodemographic characteristics such as gender and marital status, education level, employment status, as well as health status and the number of hospitalizations.Conclusion. With this study, we have shown how much stress is present and important in the genesis of alcoholism, as well as the positive correlation of depression and alcohol dependence, and the importance of sociodemographic characteristics in their genesisPublishe

Burnout syndrome and mental health among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

Uvod: Cilj ove disertacije bio je da kod zdravstvenih radnika ispitamo povezanost dimenzija sindroma sagorevanja na radu sa važnim osobinama ličnosti, sociodemografskim karakteristikama, uslovima rada, kao i uslovima života tokom pandemije COVID-19. Metod: Uzorak je obuhvatio 406 ispitanika (Ž=267), 141 lekara i 265 medicinskih tehničara. Korišćeni su instrumenti: Srpska verzija upitnika izgaranja na poslu, Kratka skala subjektivnog blagostanja, Kratka skala rezilijentnosti, Upitnik za procenu refleksivne funkcije, Skala depresivnosti, anksioznosti i stresa, kao i poseban upitnik kreiran za potrebe ovog istraživanja. Rezultati: U odnosu na zdravstvene radnike koji su radili u redovnim kliničkim uslovima, zdravstveni radnici koji su radili u COVID-19 zoni (N=203) imali su veći stepen izraženosti emocionalne iscrpljenosti (t=2,78, p<0,01) i depersonalizacije (t=2,91, p<0,01). Model regresije emocionalne iscrpljenosti objašnjava 52% njene varijanse. Emocionalnu iscrpljenost najviše povećavaju stres kao osobina ličnosti (ß=0,38, p<0,01), ženski pol (ß=0,30, p<0,01) i nedovoljno odmora nakon posla (ß=0,24, p<0,01). Model regresije depersonalizacije objašnjava 24% njene varijanse. Depersonalizaciju najviše povećava depresija kao osobina ličnosti (ß=0,24, p<0,01). Model regresije lične efikasnosti objašnjava 31% varijanse, a najvažniji prediktor je subjektivno blagostanje (ß=0,40, p<0,01). Zaključak: Dimenzije sindroma sagorevanja na radu su u neposrednoj vezi sa subjektivnim blagostanjem i osobinama koje ukazuju koliko su zdravstveni radnici skloni doživljavanju stresa i depresije.Introduction: The aim of this dissertation was to examine the relationship between dimensions of burnout syndrome with important personality traits, sociodemographic characteristics, working conditions, as well as living conditions among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: The sample included 406 respondents (female=267), 141 doctors and 265 medical technicians. The instruments used were: Serbian version of the burnout questionnaire, Short subjective well-being scale, Brief resilience scale, Reflective functioning questionnaire, Depression, anxiety and stress scale, as well as a special questionnaire created for the purpose of this research. Results: Compared to healthcare workers who worked in regular clinical conditions, healthcare workers who worked in the COVID-19 zone (N=203) had a higher degree of emotional exhaustion (t=2.78, p<0.01) and depersonalization (t=2.91, p<0.01). The regression model of emotional exhaustion explains 52% of its variance. Emotional exhaustion is increased the most by stress as a personality trait (ß=0.38, p<0.01), female gender (ß=0.30, p<0.01) and insufficient rest after work (ß=0.24, p <0.01). The depersonalization regression model explains 24% of its variance. Depersonalization increases the most with depression as a personality trait (ß=0.24, p<0.01). The regression model of personal accomplishment explains 31% of the variance, and the most important predictor is subjective well-being (ß=0.40, p<0.01). Conclusion: The dimensions of the burnout syndrome are directly related to subjective wellbeing and characteristics that indicate how prone healthcare workers are to experiencing stress and depression. Keywords: burnout syndrome, COVID-19, mental health, resilience, capacity for mentalizing, healthcare workers, subjective well-bein

Sociodemographic factors related to internet addiction among adolescents in Serbia

Background/Aim. The term “internet addiction” (IA) describes a compulsive behavior associated with any online activity that disrupts everyday social interactions. The aim of this study was to determine risk factors and predictors of the development of IA in adolescents. Methods. Data were collected using an online form consisting of demographic data, questions related to the use of the Internet, and the Internet Addiction Test (version for adolescents). Results. A total of 1,669 respondents participated in this research; 1,040 of them (62.3%) were female, 590 (35.4%) were male, and 39 (2.3%) did not want to declare their gender. The average age of the respondents was 15.09 ± 1.757 years. Significant factors in the multivariate factor analysis model were age, addictive substance use frequency, purpose, and time spent on the Internet (p < 0.05). Analysis results indicate that the risk of developing IA was higher if an adolescent spent 1–3 hrs and more than 3 hrs daily on the Internet (2.8 and 8.2 times, respectively). With increasing age numbers for one unit (year), the risk of developing IA was decreasing by 11.3%. Conclusion. According to the findings of the present study, the relationship between IA and age, addictive substance use frequency, purpose, and time spent on the Internet has been proven. These results should be highlighted so that educators and all those who work with children could create targeted treatments to prevent the development of IA in adolescents

The Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health: The Protective Role of Resilience and Capacity for Mentalizing

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused enormous psychological impact worldwide, and represents an unprecedented threat to mental health. There are significant individual differences in adaptation to a stressful situation such as a pandemic, which depends on personality characteristics and psychological resources such as resilience and capacity for mentalizing. Research shows that a good capacity for mentalizing and resilience are a protective factors for mental health, which can be acquired through an appropriate education and training programs. The objective of this chapter is to summarize the extant literature reporting on mental health, ie. the prevalence of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and others forms of psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. An additional objective is to identify the role of preventive factors: resilience and capacity for mentalizing, which are associated with mental health. Findings from the extensive scientific literature prove that the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the prevalence of mental health problems by a massive 25% worldwide and that resilience and good mental capacity play a significant role in reducing mental health disorders

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Epidemic and Mental Health Status in the General Adult Population of Serbia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Since its outbreak, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has rapidly spread throughout the world. The Serbian government declared a state of emergency on 15 March 2020, implementing some of Europe's strictest measures to combat the pandemic. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on the mental health of the general adult Serbian population and to identify associated factors during the state of emergency and lockdown. Data were collected with a snowball sampling method between 23 March and 25 April 2020, by using an online questionnaire. Multiple ordinal regression was performed to establish the associations between socio-demographic characteristics, self-estimated health status, and depression, anxiety, and stress. Out of 1057 participants included in the study, 28.9%, 36.9%, and 38.1% reported moderate to severe depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms. Uneasiness related to COVID-19 news, the feeling of helplessness, likeliness of impending death, and presence of COVID-19 symptoms were associated with higher depression, anxiety, and stress scores. Current smoking status was associated with a higher risk of depression and stress. Students had a significantly higher level of depression and stress, while older age was protective against anxiety and stress. Higher socioeconomic status was significantly associated with lower levels of depression, anxiety, and stress

Mentalizing, Resilience, and Mental Health Status among Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented stress on healthcare professionals worldwide. Since resilience and mentalizing capacity play very important preventive roles when it comes to mental health, the main goal of this study was to determine whether the capacity for mentalizing and resilience could explain the levels of depression, anxiety, and stress among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study was conducted in Serbia on a sample of 406 healthcare workers (141 doctors and 265 nurses) aged 19 to 65 (M = 40.11, SD = 9.41). The participants’ mental health status was evaluated using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale—DASS-42. The Reflective Functioning Questionnaire was used to evaluate the capacity for mentalizing. Resilience was assessed using the Brief Resilience Scale. The results of the correlation analysis showed that there were negative correlations between resilience and all three dimensions of mental health status: depression, anxiety, and stress. Hypermentalizing was negatively correlated with depression, anxiety, and stress, while hypomentalizing was positively correlated. Hierarchical linear regression analysis showed that both resilience and hypermentalizing were significant negative predictors of depression, anxiety, and stress, and that hypomentalizing was a significant positive predictor of depression, anxiety, and stress. Furthermore, socioeconomic status was a significant negative predictor of depression, anxiety, and stress. Marital status, number of children, and work environment were not statistically significant predictors of any of the three dimensions of mental health status among the healthcare workers in this study. There is an urgent need to establish and implement strategies to foster resilience and enhance the capacity for mentalizing among healthcare workers in order to minimize the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health

Relationship between mentalizing and teacher burnout: A cross sectional study.

BackgroundTeaching is considered a high-risk profession due to the high impact of occupational risk factors which can endanger educators' mental health and lead to burnout syndrome. This study aimed to examine whether the capacity for mentalizing in teachers explains the degree of their burnout syndrome. The expectation was that a low capacity for mentalizing increases the degree of burnout.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 823 teachers. The Maslach Burnout Inventory-Educators Survey was used to examine the burnout syndrome. The capacity for mentalizing was examined using hypomentalizing and hypermentalizing scales from the Reflective Functioning Questionnaire.ResultsThe expectation that a low capacity for mentalizing increases teachers' burnout confirms the finding that hypomentalizing is a positive predictor of their emotional exhaustion as a dimension of burnout (ß = 0.09; p ConclusionsCapacity for mentalizing and burnout syndrome in teachers are interrelated phenomena. With a good capacity for mentalizing, emotional exhaustion and burnout in teachers are reduced. Knowledge and skills that enable a good capacity for mentalizing should be included in educational and teacher training programs