Browsing by Subject "anxiety"
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- ItemOpen AccessAssociations between mental health, social cognition, and COVID-19 stress among South African university students(2025) Mlomo, Zintle W; Thomas, Kevin; Pileggi, Lea-AnnThe COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to widespread psychosocial distress, observed in the unprecedented rise in symptoms of common mental disorders (CMDs), including depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This surge in mental health complications has been reported across all populations globally, most notably among university students, who are already a vulnerable cohort to CMDs, including PTSD. As integral socio-cognitive mechanisms of emotional regulation and interpersonal functioning, cognitive and affective empathy may potentially protect against or aggravate symptoms of CMDs, including PTSD, respectively. However, there is a scarcity of South African literature exploring this relationship, and relatively few South African studies have investigated students' mental health in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The current study employed a descriptive, cross-sectional design and aimed at evaluating the relationship between sociodemographic variables, pandemic-related-stress and exposure, mental health and cognitive and affective empathy, and explore the potentially moderating role of empathy. 534 undergraduate and postgraduate students from the University of Cape Town (UCT) were recruited using convenience sampling to participate in an online survey. Participants were administered a brief demographic questionnaire, the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K 10), the Beck Depression Inventory-Second edition (BDI-II), the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), PTSD-Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), the Pandemic Stress Questionnaire (PSQ) and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI). Overall, the results showed that female biological sex, self-reported history of psychological diagnosis, and earlier year of study were significant sociodemographic predictors of higher symptoms of CMDs, including PTSD. Furthermore, the results showed positive associations between mental health outcomes and affective empathy, and further provided significant evidence of the potentially moderating role of affective and cognitive empathy in the relationship between pandemic-related stress and exposure and mental health outcomes. These findings contribute to the current research gap on empathy and mental health in South Africa and provide further insight into the role of cognitive and affective empathy in relation to mental health in the context of stressful environmental factors. Further research should be conducted to explore additional factors and mechanisms that could explain individual mental health and social cognition in relation to stressful environmental factors
- ItemOpen AccessAssociations between mental health, social cognition, and COVID-19 stress among South African university students(2025) Mlomo, Zintle W; Thomas, Kevin; Pileggi, Lea-AnnThe COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to widespread psychosocial distress, observed in the unprecedented rise in symptoms of common mental disorders (CMDs), including depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This surge in mental health complications has been reported across all populations globally, most notably among university students, who are already a vulnerable cohort to CMDs, including PTSD. As integral socio-cognitive mechanisms of emotional regulation and interpersonal functioning, cognitive and affective empathy may potentially protect against or aggravate symptoms of CMDs, including PTSD, respectively. However, there is a scarcity of South African literature exploring this relationship, and relatively few South African studies have investigated students' mental health in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The current study employed a descriptive, cross-sectional design and aimed at evaluating the relationship between sociodemographic variables, pandemic-related-stress and exposure, mental health and cognitive and affective empathy, and explore the potentially moderating role of empathy. 534 undergraduate and postgraduate students from the University of Cape Town (UCT) were recruited using convenience sampling to participate in an online survey. Participants were administered a brief demographic questionnaire, the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K 10), the Beck Depression Inventory-Second edition (BDI-II), the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), PTSD-Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), the Pandemic Stress Questionnaire (PSQ) and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI). Overall, the results showed that female biological sex, self-reported history of psychological diagnosis, and earlier year of study were significant sociodemographic predictors of higher symptoms of CMDs, including PTSD. Furthermore, the results showed positive associations between mental health outcomes and affective empathy, and further provided significant evidence of the potentially moderating role of affective and cognitive empathy in the relationship between pandemic-related stress and exposure and mental health outcomes. These findings contribute to the current research gap on empathy and mental health in South Africa and provide further insight into the role of cognitive and affective empathy in relation to mental health in the context of stressful environmental factors. Further research should be conducted to explore additional factors and mechanisms that could explain individual mental health and social cognition in relation to stressful environmental factors
- ItemOpen AccessCoping and psychological well-being: Investigating the relations between specific coping strategies, anxiety, and depression among adolescents from Etwatwa, Daveyton(2025) Hlatshwayo, Busisiwe Sophie; Wild, LaurenCoping strategies are significant in the prevention and development of mental problems in children and adolescents. Specific coping strategies within broad coping categories may be associated with symptoms of psychopathology differently. Yet, we lack comprehensive data on these associations in South Africa. The present cross-sectional study investigates specific coping strategies and their association with symptoms of anxiety and depression among 415 Etwatwa adolescents between the ages of 15 and 19 years. A quantitative, correlational research design was adopted, and data was collected in the form of self-report questionnaires. Female adolescents reported significantly more symptoms of anxiety and depression than male adolescents (p < .001). The only statistically significant gender difference in coping was that female adolescents used more behavioural disengagement (p = .001) than male adolescents. Using substances, behavioural disengagement and self-blame predicted more symptoms of both anxiety and depression among adolescents. Denial was associated with more symptoms of anxiety while venting was associated with more symptoms of depression. When the data set was split by gender, behavioural disengagement predicted anxiety in both female and male adolescents. Self-blame predicted both anxiety and depression in female adolescents and only anxiety in male adolescents. Venting predicted depression in female adolescents but not in male adolescents. While further research is recommended to determine the direction of effects, the findings of this study suggest that targeting the use of these strategies may help to prevent emotional distress among adolescents.
- ItemOpen AccessDeveloping a manualised task-sharing counselling intervention for perinatal common mental disorders in the South African context(2022) Boisits, Sonet; Kaminer, Debra; Lund, CrickBackground: Symptoms of depression and anxiety are highly prevalent amongst perinatal women in low-resource settings of South Africa, but there is no access to standardised counselling support for these conditions in public health facilities. The aim of this study was to report on the development of a maternal mental health counselling intervention for routine treatment of mild to moderate symptoms of depression and anxiety for primary healthcare in South Africa, as part of the Health Systems Strengthening in sub-Saharan Africa (ASSET) study. Methods: A four-phase study process informed the counselling intervention and training manual designed to train lay health workers. We first conducted a review of manuals from seven counselling interventions for depression and anxiety in low- and middle-income countries and two local health system training programmes to gather information on common counselling components used across maternal mental health and other evidence-based task-sharing interventions. Thereafter, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 health workers and 37 pregnant women from four Midwife Obstetric Units in Cape Town to explore mental health views and needs. In the third stage, multi-sector stakeholder engagements further informed the choice of intervention design and service provider. In the final phase, a four-day pre implementation pilot training with community-based health workers refined the counselling content and training material. Results: The manual review identified problem-solving, psychoeducation, basic counselling skills and behavioural activation as common counselling components across interventions. The interviews found that participants mostly identified symptoms of depression and anxiety in behavioural terms and lay health workers and pregnant women demonstrated their understanding through a range of contextual terms. Perceived causes of symptoms related to interpersonal conflict and challenging social circumstances. Stakeholder engagements identified a three session counselling model as most feasible for delivery as part of existing health care practices and community health workers in ward-based outreach teams as the best placed delivery agents. Pilot training of a three-session intervention with community-based health workers resulted in minor adaptations of the counselling assessment method. Conclusion: The study demonstrates how common therapeutic elements can be adapted to a local context and developed into an evidence-based manualised therapeutic programme while remaining sensitive to a health system's needs. While a problem-solving counselling approach, delivered in a structured format, was best suited for training lay health workers, input from health workers and perinatal mothers informed the manualised counselling content. The latter was a critical supplement to align the programme with contextual needs. Stakeholder engagements helped to align the intervention design to health system requirements and guidelines. Structured training practices and ongoing supervision of mental health workers are vital to develop counselling skills over time and to enhance personal support.
- ItemOpen AccessDid COVID-19-Related Alcohol Sales Restrictions Reduce Alcohol Consumption? Findings from a National Online Survey in South Africa(2022-02-19) Theron, Marieke; Swart, Rina; Londani, Mukhethwa; Parry, Charles; Petersen Williams, Petal; Harker, NadineBackground: South Africa has a high prevalence of heavy episodic drinking (HED). Due to the high levels of alcohol misuse and violence, public hospital intensive care units were often overrun during the COVID-19 pandemic. This research investigated alcohol intake behaviour change during differing levels of lockdown restrictions, which included bans on alcohol sales. Methods: A self-reported Facebook survey ran from July to November 2020. The questions included socio-demographics, income, alcohol intake, purchasing behaviour, and reasoning. Chi-square tests/Fisher’s exact test for categorical data, Student’s t-test for normal continuous data, and the Mann–Whitney U test for non-normal data were applied. Multiple logistic regression was run for HED versus moderate drinkers. Results: A total of 798 participants took part in the survey, of which 68.4% were female. Nearly 50% of participants fell into the HED category and the majority bought alcohol illegally during restrictions. HED respondents who drank more alcohol than usual during restrictions reported that they felt stressed, needed to relax, and were bored. Conclusions: Policies intended to increase the pricing of alcohol may have the potential to reduce alcohol intake. Reducing stress and anxiety may be key to curtailing HED during emergency situations.
- ItemOpen AccessPrevalence of depression and anxiety and associated risk factors among adolescent offenders within the juvenile justice system in Bulawayo and Matabeleland North Province(s), Zimbabwe(2024) Marufu, Marshall Takudzwa; Sorsdahl, Katherine; Williams, Petal Petersen; Besada, Donela; Mangez, WalterBackground The mental health of adolescents is becoming an increasing public health concern. Mental health conditions such as depression and have their onset during childhood. Research has shown that adolescents entering the juvenile justice system are particularly vulnerable to depression and anxiety. Despite the negative consequences associated with these conditions among adolescent offenders, there is a dearth of studies conducted in low and middle countries including Zimbabwe on the prevalence and factors associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety among adolescent offenders between 10-17 years within the juvenile justice system. Thus, the aim of this study is to determine the prevalence and factors associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety among adolescent offenders between 10-17 years within the juvenile justice system in Bulawayo and Matabeleland North Province, Zimbabwe. Methods In total, 130 adolescent offenders aged between 10 and 17 years were recruited in the cross- sectional study using a convenient sampling technique. The Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D-10) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) were used to measure symptoms of depression and anxiety, respectively. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), Drug Use Disorders Identification Test (DUDIT), Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and Sexual Risk Behaviour Beliefs and Self-Efficacy Scales were used to measure individual factors associated depression and anxiety. The Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire (JVQ) was used to measure factors associated with mental health conditions at the family level, while the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) was used to measure associations at the social level. Means and proportions were used to describe socio- demographic data as well as the prevalence of potential mental health conditions (depression and anxiety). Unadjusted and adjusted associations between individual, family, and social risk factors and the presence of depression and anxiety were also explored. Only those variables that were significant in the unadjusted models were included in the final adjusted regression model. The standard cutoff level for statistical significance used in this analysis is a p-value of 0.05 or less. The findings are presented in the form of odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Page | 5 Results The prevalence of depression and anxiety among participants was 18.5% and 10.8% respectively. In total, 7.6% of participants had reported symptoms of both depression and anxiety, highlighting the co-morbidity of mental health conditions among adolescent offenders. After adjusting models, results indicate that adolescents with a known history of mental health problems were more likely to report symptoms of anxiety than those without a known history (OR=15.10, 95% CI 1.86 -122.78). The adjusted models also indicate that adolescents who report more social support are less likely to experience symptoms of anxiety (OR=0.96, 95% CI 0.92 - 0.99). Additionally, the adjusted model shows that participants with high risky sexual behaviour (OR=1.19, 95% CI 1.05-1.35), high self-esteem (OR=1.19, 95% CI 1.05-1.35) and experiencing juvenile victimization or childhood violence (OR=46.87, 95% CI 3.89-565.237) were more likely to have symptoms of depression. Finally, results show that being a first time offender (OR=0.17, 95% CI 0.04-0.80) and having a mother who is alive (OR=0.12, 95% CI 0.02-0.76) are protective factors that reduces the risk of young offenders experiencing symptoms of depression. Conclusion Results from the study show that symptoms of depression and anxiety are prevalent among adolescent offenders within the juvenile justice system and are associated with several risk factors. Selective prevention interventions are recommended for this vulnerable population.
- ItemOpen AccessA Psychosocial handbook: A tool for consultation(2019) Backwell, DavidThis handbook was designed to be a tool for preclinical medical students during their beginnings in patient interactions and counselling. It is intended to be used in a consultation, giving step-wise approaches to some problems, and tools to use with the patients. It is by no means comprehensive, but a basic field guide to psychosocial issues common in South Africa. The handbook can be used on a tablet or smartphone, and if printed, lamination would allow repeated use of the pages that may be written on (such as the scales).
- ItemOpen AccessSouth African university students' user experience of mobile applications for anxiety and depression(2024) Chipps, Wesley; Spedding, Maxine; Kaminer, DebraBackground: Globally, university students have been shown to be disproportionately affected by common mental disorders (CMDs). The primary CMDs reported by students have been anxiety and depression. Research on South African students has proven no exception. Moreover, this predicament is worsened by low rates of help-seeking, historically entrenched systemic inequality regarding access to resources, a lack of culturally appropriate interventions, and a population that tends to be overly self-reliant. Objective: With the prevalence of CMDs in mind, as well as the many challenges students face, it was deemed worth exploring current, available alternatives. Given some evidence for the use of mobile mental health (MMH) applications (apps) among university students in high income countries, the current study aimed to investigate South African university students' user experience of MMH apps for depression and anxiety. Methods: South African students in the psychology department of the University of Cape Town were recruited to make use of two MMH apps, Headspace and Woebot, for two weeks total, but one week per app. They then completed online questionnaires related to their experience of using these apps, and semi-structured interviews were conducted, recorded, and transcribed by the researcher. Due to a lack of meaningful data from the online questionnaires, only the semi-structured interviews were used for analysis. Braun and Clarke's (2006) method of thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Results: After analysing the semi-structured individual interviews, themes were defined, described, and discussed. The participants expressed that the apps facilitated insight and self-awareness, and were found to be supportive, encouraging, and convenient. However, they valued different aspects of the two apps, with each offering something that the other did not. The importance of each design was also highlighted as a vital factor in the overall user experience, while affordability was also emphasised for the student population in particular. Conclusion: The two apps were found to be accessible and acceptable for participants in this South African university setting. Additionally, user experience design enhanced their experiences. However, as each app offered different approaches and benefits, the integration of features could be something to work towards. There are also important ethical considerations that need to be factored before recommending them. Further research and development are required in order to address these concerns.
- ItemRestrictedUnderstanding the seating patterns in a residence-dining hall: a longitudinal study of intergroup contact(2010) Schrieff, Leigh Elmarie; Tredoux, ColinUsing a combination of observational and questionnaire methods, this longitudinal study investigated interracial contact in a university residence dining hall, focusing on the organization of seating patterns. The results showed that informal division by race was extensive, with indices of interaction (xPy*) and evenness (D) indicating the existence of high levels of racial segregation. Moreover, although they had ample opportunities for regular contact, students' preferences for sitting with same-race peers remained relatively constant across the study period. Their explanations for seating choices emphasised the role of wider friendship patterns as well as the importance of eating with people with whom they felt ‘comfortable’.