Positive mental health and COVID-19 pandemic in Slovenia

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic is having a major impact on mental health. In contrast to studies on mental disorders, our study contributes to the under-researched area of the impact of the pandemic on positive mental health. We compare the prevalence of positive mental health before and during the pandemic and identify factors associated with flourishing and languishing mental health during the pandemic. Methods We used data from two nationally representative cross-sectional surveys of Slovenian adults conducted in 2019 and 2021. Outcome included positive mental health (Mental Health Continuum - Short Form). Cross-sectional prevalence estimates were calculated and logistic regression assessed associations between positive mental health and the COVID-19 specific and other health-related factors. Results In 2021, 38.6% (95% CI, 37.0%-40.2%) had flourishing mental health, compared to 61,5% (95% CI, 60.5%-62.5%) before the pandemic. In contrast, the share of people in languishing mental health during the pandemic (8.0%; 95% CI, 7.1%-8.9%) was nearly two times higher than in 2019 (4,5%; 95% CI, 4.1%-4.9%). Both flourishing and languishing were significantly associated with changes in family relations, social interactions and dietary habits, resilience and COVID-19 literacy. Conclusions Positive mental health in Slovenia worsened drastically during the pandemic compared with before. Results indicate important role of family relationships, social interactions and dietary habits on positive mental health. Both prevention of mental disorders and mental health promotion need to be considered in order to address the full range of public mental health needs, with increased attention to strengthening resilience and health literacy. Key messages • We noted an substantial decline in flourishing and rise in languishing mental health during the pandemic. • Public health efforts need to address the impact of the pandemic on family relations and social interactions.


Background:
Depression and anxiety are associated with elevated risks of sickness absence (SA), but less is known about the development of SA over time in young people experiencing these mental health conditions.This study aimed to identify latent trajectories of SA in young people with a history of depression and/or anxiety symptoms, while accounting for sociodemographic factors.

Methods:
This was an observational cohort study of 1,445 twin individuals who had elevated depression/anxiety symptoms in late adolescence or young adulthood (age range: 19-30), as assessed in Swedish surveys completed in 2005.Through linkage to the national registries, the individuals were prospectively followed from 2006 to 2018.The outcome included consecutive annual net days of SA, which were analyzed using group-based trajectory modeling with zeroinflated Poisson regression.Multinomial logistic regression estimating odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) was used to examine the influence of age, sex, and educational level on the resulting trajectory groups.

Background:
The COVID-19 pandemic is having a major impact on mental health.In contrast to studies on mental disorders, our study contributes to the under-researched area of the impact of the pandemic on positive mental health.We compare the prevalence of positive mental health before and during the pandemic and identify factors associated with flourishing and languishing mental health during the pandemic.

Methods:
We used data from two nationally representative crosssectional surveys of Slovenian adults conducted in 2019 and 2021.Outcome included positive mental health (Mental Health Continuum -Short Form).Cross-sectional prevalence estimates were calculated and logistic regression assessed associations between positive mental health and the COVID-19 specific and other health-related factors.

Conclusions:
Positive mental health in Slovenia worsened drastically during the pandemic compared with before.Results indicate important role of family relationships, social interactions and dietary habits on positive mental health.Both prevention of mental disorders and mental health promotion need to be considered in order to address the full range of public mental health needs, with increased attention to strengthening resilience and health literacy.
COVID-19 has a serious impact on people's physical health and mental health.The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted an increasing deterioration of university students' quality of life and mental health due to several factors.The COVID-19 pandemic forced university students to take online classes, which may have bad impacts on students' learning.In addition, the students lost many job opportunities during the pandemic.Faced with employment and study pressure and worried about the epidemic, university students were prone to increased overall negative emotion, anxiety and depression.Our study aims to conduct a timely assessment of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the quality of life and mental health of University students.We conducted a cross sectional study using an online interview survey in students at public universities in Greece to better understand the effects of the pandemic on their quality of life and mental health.Three questionnaires were used (WHOQOL-BREF, IES-R and HADS).The data were analyzed with IBM SPSS 26.1.266 university students from public Greek Universities participated in the study, 73.1% of which were female, 26,3% were male.We observed that 55,8% had a score lower in psychological domain and 52,3% in social domain of WHOQOL-BREF.Also 46.6% of the respondents had a score of 37+ on the IES-R questionnaire, 45% of the respondents had abnormal results regarding anxiety and 33.6% had abnormal results regarding depression.Due to the long-lasting pandemic and onerous measures such as lockdown and stay-at-home orders, the COVID-19 pandemic brings negative impacts on University education and quality of life of students.The findings of our study highlight the urgent need to develop interventions and preventive strategies to address the quality of life and mental health of University students.

Key messages:
There is a need for preventative measures for university students to ensure that their mental health and quality of life do not suffer.Female students reached higher levels of anxiety in the COVID-19 pandemic period.