Sleep Quality and Emotional Adaptation among Freshmen in Elite Chinese Universities during Prolonged COVID-19 Lockdown:The Mediating Role of Anxiety Symptoms

Under the effects of COVID-19 and a number of ongoing lockdown tactics,anxiety symptoms and poor sleep quality have become common mental health issues among college freshmen and are intimately related to their emotional adaptation.To explore this connection,this study gathered data from a sample of 256 freshmen enrolled in an elite university in China in September 2022.The association between sleep quality,anxiety symptoms,and emotional adaptation was clarified using correlation analysis.Additionally,the mediating function of anxiety symptoms between sleep quality and emotional adaptation was investigated using a structural equation model.The results reveal that:(1)Chinese elite university freshmen who were subjected to prolonged lockdown had poor sleep quality and mild anxiety symptoms;(2)a significant positive correlation between poor sleep quality and anxiety symptoms was identified;(3)anxiety symptoms were found to have a significant negative impact on emotional adaptation;(4)poor sleep quality had a negative impact on emotional adaptation through anxiety symptoms.This research makes a valuable contribution by offering insights into the intricate relationship between sleep quality and emotional adaptation among freshmen in elite Chinese universities during prolonged lockdown conditions,and it is beneficial for schools and educators to further improve school schedules and psychological health initiatives.

Research on the Intervention Effect of ArtMaking on the Anxiety Symptoms of CollegeStudents

This research was to investigate the intervention effect of art-making on the anxiety symptoms of college students. A sample of 400college students took part in this research. They were assigned to the experiment group (n = 200) and the control group (n = 200)according to Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) scores. Unlike the control group, the experiment group received a standard artmaking program under the supervision of trained instructors for a period of twelve sessions two times weekly which wascontinued for six weeks. Self-Rating Anxiety Seale (SAS) and Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) were used to assess anxietysymptoms level. Significant decreases in anxiety symptoms (p < 0.05) were found in the experiment group compared with thecontrol group. Using the art-making program to relieve anxiety, the shortest intervention period is three weeks. Art-makingcan effectively alleviate college students’ anxiety, and also can effectively improve the physical health, mental health, and socialhealth levels of college students.

Transition of Depressive Symptoms and Anxiety Symptoms According to Parity and Associations of These Symptoms with Feelings for Involvement with Newborn Infants during a 6-Month Postpartum Period

Background: Depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms during the postpartum period affect physical health and child rearing and that these effects are important social issues. Objective: The aims of this study were to clarify the differences in the transition of depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms according to parity during a 6-month postpartum period and to clarify the differences in associations of depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms with feelings for involvement with newborn infants in primiparous and multiparous postpartum women. Methods: The design of this study was a longitudinal investigation. This study was conducted from February 2017 to July 2018 in Japan. By using self-administered questionnaires that included questions on psychological symptoms in a standard climacteric scale and questions on feelings for involvement with newborn infants, we collected data at 3 days postpartum, 2 weeks postpartum, one month postpartum, 3 months postpartum and 6 months postpartum. Results: Responses to all of the questionnaires were obtained from 121 (52.8%) of 229 women. The score for depressive symptoms in primiparous women was significantly higher than that in multiparous women at 3 days postpartum. Depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms showed peaks at 2 weeks postpartum in both primiparous women and multiparous women, but depressive symptoms reoccurred from 3 months postpartum to 6 months postpartum in primiparous women and anxiety symptoms reoccurred from one month to 3 months postpartum in multiparous women. Depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms were associated with negative feelings for involvement with newborn infants and with mother’s sleeping time. Conclusion: Changes in depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms were different in primiparous women and multiparous women during a 6-month postpartum period. In addition, depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms were associated with negative feelings for involvement with newborn infants and with sleeping time in postpartum women.

Associations of Time Spent on Study and Sleep with Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms in Junior High School Students:Report from the Large-Scale Monitoring of Basic Education Data in China

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and under the pressure of high competitiveness for higher education in China,junior high school students’mental health is facing greater challenges.Understanding the time allocation of study and sleep is necessary for developing effective prevention and treatment programs.Based on a survey of 31,057 junior high school students in 47 junior high schools in Gansu Province,China's Mainland,the study analyzed the associations of time spent on study and sleep with anxiety and depressive symptoms among junior high school students through chi-square test,ANOVA,logistic regression model and threshold regression model.It was found that 18.4%–21.1%of junior high school students had mild and above anxiety and depressive symptoms.Female junior high school students were more likely to have anxiety and depressive symptoms.In addition,time spent on study was significantly and positively associated with anxiety and depressive symptoms and time spent on sleep was significantly and negatively associated with anxiety and depressive symptoms.Late sleepers were more likely to suffer from anxiety and depressive tendencies.Reducing after-school study time appropriately and getting more sleep are beneficial in reducing anxiety and depression,but it is more important to ensure time of sleep.For the reduction of anxiety and depressive symptoms,the maximum time spent on study after school should not exceed 1.92 h,the minimum time spent on sleep at night should be more than 7 h and a 40-min lunch break should be guaranteed at noon.

Generalized Anxiety and Major Depressive Symptoms of General Public in South Korea during the Early COVID-19 Pandemic

The extent of viral spread and strategies in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic have been different in each country.There are overall increased mental health concerns in many countries but it is unclear what the general public individuals who do not have heighten vulnerability to stressors for existing mental diseases or significant physical illnesses were experiencing during the pandemic.We evaluated the stressors and mental health of general public in South Korea that has a relatively low confirmed cases and deaths.Responses on the on-line survey questions were used to assess the mental and physical symptoms in association with individuals’reported stressors.Individuals with the symptoms of the generalized anxiety disorder(GAD)were reported in 58.9%,and major depression(MD)in 23.2%,mostly in minimal to mild degrees,cut-off scores of 5 and 10,respectively by the validated screening tools,GAD-7 and PHQ-9.Both GAD and MD symptoms were in 21.5%of the respondents.The total number of stress had significant association with the scores of GAD-7,PHQ-9,physical symptoms,sleep difficulties and resilience(p<0.01).GAD scores were also associated with sleep difficulties(p<0.01)and raising young children(p<0.05).MD scores were associated with sleep difficulties,job-dissatisfaction,and educational level(p<0.05).The limitations of the study include small sample size,usage of smartphone or email,potential under-reporting by stigma in the socio-cultural context and evolving nature of pandemic.We conclude that keeping careful watch for mental symptoms,stressors,sleep difficulties and other physical symptoms are important even for the individuals without previous mental illnesses during the pandemic era.