AI Article Synopsis
- Health protective behaviors are essential for preventing COVID-19 spread among university students, but mental health issues like depression and anxiety can hinder students' motivation to follow health guidelines.
- A study of Zambian university students revealed that those with possible anxiety showed lower adherence to protective behaviors and only a small percentage expressed willingness to get vaccinated.
- The findings suggest a need for interventions that target anxiety reduction and boost self-efficacy to improve health behaviors among students experiencing mental health challenges.*
Article Abstract
Background: Health protective behaviours are crucial in the prevention of the spread of COVID-19, particularly in university students who typically live and study in large groups. Depression and anxiety are common in students and can impact young people's motivations to follow health advice. The study aims to assess the relationship between mental health and COVID-19 health-protective behaviours in Zambian university students with symptoms of low mood.
Methods: The study was a cross-sectional, online survey of Zambian university students. Participants were also invited to take part in a semi-structured interview to explore views about COVID-19 vaccination. Invitation emails were sent explaining the study aims and directed students who self-identified as having low mood in the past two weeks to an online survey. Measures included COVID-19 preventive behaviours, COVID-19-related self-efficacy, and Hospital and Anxiety Depression scale.
Results: A total of 620 students (n=308 female, n=306 male) participated in the study, with a mean participant age of 22.47±3.29 years (range 18-51). Students reported a mean protective behaviour score of 74.09/105 and 74% scored above the threshold for possible anxiety disorder. Three-way ANOVA showed lower COVID-19 protective behaviours in students with possible anxiety disorder (p=.024) and those with low self-efficacy (p<0.001). Only 168 (27%) said they would accept vaccination against COVID-19, with male students being twice as likely to be willing to accept COVID-19 vaccination (p<0.001). Of 50 students interviewed. 30 (60%) expressed fears about the vaccination and 16 (32%) were concerned about a lack of information. Only 8 (16%) participants expressed doubts about effectiveness.
Conclusion: Students who self-identify as having symptoms of depression have high levels of anxiety. The results suggest that interventions to reduce anxiety and promote self-efficacy might enhance students' COVID-19 protective behaviours. Qualitative data provided insight into the high rates of vaccine hesitancy in this population.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9930037 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15073-4 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Integration of online and offline teaching mode in biochemistry and molecular biology courses.
Biochem Mol Biol Educ
December 2024
School of Basic Medical Sciences, Jiangsu Medical College, Yancheng, China.
To enhance the effectiveness of integrating online and offline teaching, 1545 clinical and preventive medicine students from 2019 to 2021 were randomly allocated to two groups, A and B. The curriculum was divided into two segments. Initially, two groups were established for the first segment, covering an introduction to Biomolecular and Material Metabolism.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF"Visual thinking strategies" improves radiographic observational skills but not chart interpretation in third and fourth year veterinary students.
Front Vet Sci
December 2024
College of Education, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.
The ability to observe and interpret images and clinical information is essential for veterinarians in clinical practice. The purpose of this study is to determine the utility of a novel teaching method in veterinary medicine, the incorporation of art interpretation using the Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS), on students' observational and clinical interpretation skills when evaluating radiographs and patient charts. Students were asked to observe and interpret a set of radiographs and a patient chart, subsequently involved in art interpretation using VTS, and then asked to observe and interpret a different set of radiographs and a different patient chart.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: We examined the feasibility and outcomes of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a virtual coach in guided self-help (GSH-AI) compared to pure self-help (PSH).
Method: Participants ( = 85 undergraduate university students; M age = 20.65 years [ = 2.
Machine learning based algorithms for virtual early detection and screening of neurodegenerative and neurocognitive disorders: a systematic-review.
Front Neurol
December 2024
Students Research Committee, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran.
Background And Aim: Neurodegenerative disorders (e.g., Alzheimer's, Parkinson's) lead to neuronal loss; neurocognitive disorders (e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDecision-making factors: Exploring the influences on high school girls' decisions to choose science subjects in Cameroon: A qualitative case study.
Heliyon
December 2024
College of Education, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua city, China.
This study investigates the factors influencing high school girls' decisions to choose science subjects in Cameroon, focusing on the underrepresentation of girls in these fields. Using a qualitative interview method with 42 participants-including students, teachers, and parents-the findings reveal that interest in science, future career motivations, and relationships with parents and teachers are critical determinants in girls' decision-making. It highlights the necessity for supportive environments and role models that underscore the impact of pedagogical quality, resource availability, societal norms, and prejudices on girls' confidence and engagement in science, providing insights into the new complexities for understanding the underrepresentation of girls in science fields in Cameroon.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!