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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted global daily life, including the world of elite athletes. This paper examines the multifaceted impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on elite swimmers and water polo athletes, specifically their mental health, their concerns over the virus, their intentions of getting vaccinated, and sleep disturbances that they may have faced. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study on elite swimmers and water polo players, using an anonymous questionnaire. Results: A total of 200 elite athletes participated. The majority of the participants reported a negative impact on their mental health, screened positive for insomnia (n = 107 (53.5%), with females (n = 101; 57.7%), swimmers (n = 100, 66.7%), and university students (n = 71, 71.7%) being more vulnerable (p < 0.001). Concerns about contracting the disease especially during important training or tournament periods and potential career disruption also affected their psychological well-being. While the majority (75%) had the intention of getting vaccinated, an alarming percentage was yet uncertain over its decision. Conclusions: This study highlights the significant psychological distress faced by elite aquatic athletes during the pandemic. It emphasizes the difficulties faced by elite swimmers and water polo athletes and determines not only the importance of addressing the vaccination intentions of athletes, but also how critical it is to confront the challenges they face both for their personal health and for the restoration of world sports to their pre-pandemic state. More large-scale studies are required to inform policies targeted at minimizing disruption to the athletes' career, provision of information on preventive measures and vaccination, and improvement in psychological well-being in case of similar major public health issues in the future. Additionally, this study calls for further research to explore the unique challenges faced by aquatic athletes, such as those related to their training environments and fear of contagion, to better support them in future public health crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transition from school to university brings significant adjustments in lifestyle, body weight, and living environment for young adults, potentially impacting their quality of life. Emerging evidence suggests the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may have exacerbated these changes. This cross-sectional study involved 361 young adults (18–25 years) from Malaysian tertiary institutions, aiming to identify factors associated with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) post-COVID-19 restrictions. Data were collected online between April and July 2022, utilizing the WHOQOL-BREF for HRQOL assessment. Participants, with a median age of 23, scored highest in the physical health domain (mean: 63.2, SD = 16.2) and lowest in psychological health (mean: 58.2, SD = 16.9). Physical health domain scores varied by ethnicity, the field of study, weight category, and prescription medicine usage; environmental health scores by ethnicity and household income; and social health scores by age. Moderate perceived stress and low perceived support were significant predictors of poor HRQOL. Across the weight categories, sleep quality, perceived stress, and support have consistently impacted the HRQOL domain scores. This study underscores the multifaceted influences on young adults' quality of life during the transition to university, especially in post-pandemic adjustments, highlighting the importance of addressing factors such as perceived stress and support to enhance overall well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the mental health of individuals globally. However, less is known about the characteristics that contributed to some people having mental health problems during the pandemic, while others did not. Mental health problems can be understood on a continuum, ranging from acute (e.g., depression following a stressful event) to severe (e.g., chronic conditions that disrupt everyday functioning). Therefore, the purpose of this article was to generate profiles of adults who were more or less at risk for the development of mental health problems, in general, during the first 16-months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, Canada. Data were collected via online surveys at two time points: April-July 2020 and July-August 2021; 2,188 adults (Mage = 43.15 years; SD = 8.82) participated. Surveys included a demographic questionnaire and four previously validated tools to measure participants' mental health, subjective wellbeing, physical activity and sedentary behaviour, and sleep. A decision tree was generated at each time point for those with mental health problems, and those with no mental health problems. Results showed that subjective wellbeing was the biggest contributor to mental health status. Characteristics associated with no mental health problems among adults included having good wellbeing, being a good sleeper (quantity, quality, and patterns of sleep), and being over the age of 42. Characteristics associated with mental health problems included having poor wellbeing and being a poor sleeper. Findings revealed that specific characteristics interacted to contribute to adults' mental health status during the first 16 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Given that wellbeing was the biggest contributor to mental health, researchers should focus on targeting adults' wellbeing to improve their mental health during future health crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the Nordic municipal health and care services' ability to promote principal goals within care for older people during the COVID-19 pandemic. Two surveys were conducted among managers of municipal health care services for older people in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden; the first around 6 months into the pandemic (survey 1), and the second around 12 months later (survey 2). Data were analysed through descriptive statistics, and multiple regression (OLS). 1470 (survey 1, 2020) and 745 (survey 2, 2021) managers. 32% in home care, 51% in nursing homes, 17% combined. In all countries the pandemic seems to have had more negative impact on eldercare services' ability to promote an active and social life, than on the ability to promote or enhance older people's mental and physical health. The regression analysis indicates that different factors influence the ability to promote these goals. Managers within nursing homes reported reduced ability to promote mental and physical health and an active social life to a significantly lower degree than managers of home care. The effect of three prevention strategies (lock down, testing, and/or organisational change), were explored. Organisational change (reorganize staff and practice, restrict use of substitutes) tended to impact the units' ability to promote a social life in a positive direction, while lock down (areas, buffets etc) tended to impact both the ability to promote mental/physical health and a social life in a negative direction. Measures that can improve opportunities for an active and social life during a pandemic should have high priority, particularily within home care. It is important to learn from how the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020 affected the municipal health and care services' ability to achieve principal goals within care for older people. The pandemic had a more negative impact on the services' ability to promote an active and social life, than on their ability to promote or enhance mental and physical health. Measures that can improve opportunities for an active and social life during a pandemic situation should have high priority, particularily within home-based care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The theory of posttraumatic growth (PTG) proposes that from life difficulties positive changes can happen, such as deepened personal relationships and an awareness of new possibilities in life. PTG can occur naturally or can be facilitated. This study aimed to promote PTG through a school-based intervention of eight sessions of 45 min each with mindfulness and character strengths practices (the so-called "The exploration of happiness during the COVID-19 pandemic"). The study conducted assessments at baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up (i.e., one month after the intervention). The post-intervention results showed that the participants in the intervention group experienced an improvement in PTG, well-being, mindfulness, strengths use, and PTS symptoms compared to the children in the control group. Furthermore, these positive changes were sustained at follow-up. The findings of this study highlight that mindfulness-based strengths practices can increase positive outcomes (i.e., well-being, posttraumatic growth) and reduce negative psychological symptoms (PTS) among children. The implications for theory and practice are discussed, and detailed appendices for practitioners are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Individuals living with and beyond cancer are at heightened risk of adverse psychological and social outcomes and experiences. In March 2020, the COVID-19 global pandemic presented a unique set of social circumstances with the potential to exacerbate the challenges faced by this population. The purpose of this study was to investigate the experiences of people living with and beyond cancer during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic and assess the impact on psychological and social aspects of their lives. Methods: From a pool of participants from a larger health behaviours study thirty participants were purposively sampled for characteristics including: diagnostic group (breast, prostate and colorectal cancers), gender, time since diagnosis and age. Semi-structured interviews were conducted via telephone to discuss their experience of living through the pandemic. A thematic analysis was conducted using a needs-based approach to detail the fundamental needs expressed by this population in relation to their mental health and quality of life during the pandemic. Results: Three fundamental needs underpinned the experiences expressed by participants: the need to feel safe; particularly in relation to risk of contracting COVID-19 and their ongoing cancer monitoring; the need to feel connected; to the people, places, activities and practices of everyday life; and the need to make the most out of life; specifically in context of having already endured cancer and cancer treatment. Participant experiences are described in relation to how they impacted each of these three needs. Conclusions: People living with and beyond cancer have past and ongoing experiences that make them vulnerable to adverse psychosocial reactions and outcomes. Support for this population needs to provide greater clarity of risk, clearer guidelines specific to their personal circumstances, and regular updates on scheduling of important follow up care and monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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