Mental health and sociodemographic influences during COVID-19: Longitudinal findings from Iceland.

The COVID-19 pandemic introduced numerous stressors and challenges that have had profound implications for mental health. This study examined the effects of the pandemic on mental health among Icelandic adults (n = 1766), using longitudinal survey data spanning three waves of data collection from 2019 to 2022. Symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress increased from the beginning of the pandemic to the second time point, approximately one year into the pandemic, coinciding with reductions in happiness and social support.

Prevalence of trauma exposure and PTSD symptoms among the Icelandic population: gender and regional differences.

Aim: The primary aim of this cross-sectional study was to provide descriptive data about the lifetime prevalence of trauma exposure with a particular focus on sexual violence and natural disasters and to assess the prevalence of symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the Icelandic population. In addition, the aim was to investigate whether PTSD symptoms, trauma types and prevalence differed by gender and geographical location.

Method: A representative sample of the population between the ages of 18 and 80 years was randomly selected from the Icelandic National Registrar.

The role of childhood adversity and prenatal mental health as psychosocial risk factors for adverse delivery and neonatal outcomes.

Objective: Exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) is a significant predictor for physical and mental health problems later in life, especially during the perinatal period. Prenatal common mental disorders (PCMDs) are well-established as a risk for obstetric interventions but knowledge on combined effects of multiple psychosocial risk factors is sparse. We aim to examine a comprehensive model of ACEs and PCMDs as risk factors for poor delivery and neonatal outcomes.

A Virtual Reality Courtroom for Survivors of Sexual Violence: A Mixed-Method Pilot Study on Application Possibilities.

This mixed-method pilot study examined the application possibilities of a virtual courtroom to support survivors of sexual violence who may experience courtroom-associated distress. Female sexual violence survivors ( = 13) who had testified in court following victimization entered an interactive virtual courtroom replica. Their reactions were measured quantitatively and qualitatively.

Associations among posttraumatic growth, demographic characteristics, posttraumatic stress symptoms, and trauma type, with a focus on sexual violence.

This study assessed posttraumatic growth (PTG) across multiple trauma types and by demographic characteristics (i.e., sex, age, education).

A year of Covid-19: experiences and lessons learnt by small European island states-Cyprus, Iceland and Malta.

Background: COVID-19 became a global pandemic within weeks, as every country including small states and islands experienced a surge in cases. Small islands are known to face several challenges in the quest to curb the viral spread, but with the absence of land boarders and small population size, these factors should have played to their advantage to minimize the spread. The aim of this article was to compare and contrast the COVID-19 situation, restrictions, preparedness, management and the healthcare systems between the small population island states of Cyprus, Iceland and Malta.

Mortality comparisons of COVID-19 with all-cause and non-communicable diseases in Cyprus, Iceland and Malta: lessons learned and forward planning.

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has spread throughout the world, including Cyprus, Iceland and Malta. Considering the small population sizes of these three island countries, it was anticipated that COVID-19 would be adequately contained and mortality would be low. This study aims to compare and contrast COVID-19 mortality with mortality from all causes and common non-communicable diseases (NCDs) over 8 months between these three islands.

Dyadic Reports Using the Parental Support after Child Sexual Abuse Measure: Psychometrics and Associations with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms.

This study assessed the psychometric properties of a new measure, the Parental Support after Child Sexual Abuse (PSCSA) survey, and tested the association between parents' and children's parental support reports and children's post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. A total of 99 Icelandic children (86.5% girls, 6-18 years old, = 13.

Narcissism and Social Media: The Role of Communal Narcissism.

Agentic narcissism and vulnerable narcissism have been widely studied in relation to social media use. However, with research on communal narcissism in its early stages, the current study examines communal narcissism in relation to social media use. Specifically, the current study investigates whether communal narcissism is related to use and frequency of use of the popular social networking sites Instagram, Reddit and Twitter, and if communal narcissism relates to the importance of receiving feedback and to the quality-rating of self-presented content on those platforms.

Haters Gonna Hate, Trolls Gonna Troll: The Personality Profile of a Facebook Troll.

Personality factors, such as the Dark Tetrad personality factors (Machiavellianism, narcissism and sadism) relate to greater online trolling. Other personality factors, such as the Big Five Personality factors, honesty-humility and negative social potency, may also play a role in cyberbullying, which is an aggressive behavior similar to trolling. The purpose of this study was to predict Facebook trolling behavior based on personality factors.

Conducting national burden of disease studies in small countries in Europe- a feasible challenge?

Background: Burden of Disease (BoD) studies use disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) as a population health metric to quantify the years of life lost due to morbidity and premature mortality for diseases, injuries and risk factors occurring in a region or a country. Small countries usually face a number of challenges to conduct epidemiological studies, such as national BoD studies, due to the lack of specific expertise and resources or absence of adequate data. Considering Europe's small countries of Cyprus, Iceland, Luxembourg, Malta and Montenegro, the aim was to assess whether the various national data sources identified are appropriate to perform national BoD studies.

WITHDRAWN: Dealing with COVID-19 in small European island states: Cyprus, Iceland and Malta.

This article has been withdrawn at the request of the author(s) and/or editor. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. The full Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at https://www.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health: The Role of Locus on Control and Internet Use.

The true extent of the mental health implications of the COVID-19 pandemic are unclear, but early evidence suggests poorer mental health among those exposed to the pandemic. The Internet may have differential effects, by both connecting people with resources, or reinforce the constant checking of negative information. Moreover, locus of control becomes important in an uncontrollable pandemic.

Active and Passive Social Media Use and Symptoms of Anxiety and Depressed Mood Among Icelandic Adolescents.

Adolescent use of social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat has increased dramatically over the last decade and now pervades their everyday social lives. Active and passive social media use may impact emotional health differently, but little is known about whether and to what extent either type of social media use influences emotional distress among young people. We analyzed population survey data collected from Icelandic adolescents ( = 10,563) to document the prevalence of social media use and investigate the relationship of both active and passive social media use with self-reported symptoms of anxiety and depressed mood.

Social Reactions to Sexual Assault Disclosure: A Qualitative Study of Informal Support Dyads.

This interview study examined 45 informal support dyads where sexual assault was disclosed. Analysis showed social reactions and appraisals of reactions varied by relationship type (family, friend, significant other). Themes identified were role reversal or "parentification" of supporters, reactions of anger and aggression toward perpetrators, supporters using their own trauma experiences to respond to survivors, and reactions of betrayal.

The Impact of Sexual Abuse, Family Violence/Conflict, Spirituality, and Religion on Anger and Depressed Mood Among Adolescents.

Stressful life experiences, such as sexual abuse and family violence/conflict, relate to an increased risk of mental health problems. Religion and spirituality may prevent this negative impact, but religion and spirituality are lower among survivors of stressful life experiences. To explore this effect, we examined the relationship between childhood sexual abuse and family violence/conflict on anger and depressed mood.

A Short Measure of Social Reactions to Sexual Assault: The Social Reactions Questionnaire-Shortened.

Social reactions to disclosures of sexual assault have significant effects on women's postassault recovery. However, being the most widely used measure of these reactions, the 48-item Social Reactions Questionnaire (SRQ; Ullman, 2000) is too long for some research and evaluation efforts. Thus, we developed a 16-item short version, the Social Reactions Questionnaire-Shortened (SRQ-S).

The increase in symptoms of anxiety and depressed mood among Icelandic adolescents: time trend between 2006 and 2016.

Background: Both research and popular media reports suggest that adolescent mental health has been deteriorating across societies with advanced economies. This study sought to describe the trends in self-reported symptoms of depressed mood and anxiety among Icelandic adolescents.

Methods: Data for this study come from repeated, cross-sectional, population-based school surveys of 43 482 Icelandic adolescents in 9th and 10th grade, with six waves of pooled data from 2006 to 2016.

Sexual Orientation, Race, and Trauma as Predictors of Sexual Assault Recovery.

Sexual minorities and racial minorities experience greater negative impact following sexual assault. We examined recovery from sexual assault among women who identified as heterosexual and bisexual across racial groups. A community sample of women ( = 905) completed three yearly surveys about sexual victimization, recovery outcomes, race group, and sexual minority status.

Sexual Assault in Bisexual and Heterosexual Women Survivors.

Social support is related to sexual minority status and negative psychological impact among sexual assault survivors. We compared bisexual and heterosexual survivors on how different types of social support are connected to symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. A community sample of bisexual and heterosexual (N = 905) women sexual assault survivors completed three annual surveys.