Background In addition to the physical symptoms, long COVID can cause considerable psychological burden. Aims To investigate the association of long COVID with depressive symptoms, loneliness, perceiv...

Background and Aims Due to the limited knowledge in this study area, we aimed to investigate the association of frequency of laughter with loneliness, social isolation (perceived and objective socia...

Aim To investigate the association between the frequency of hugs and probable depression, probable anxiety, and suicidal ideation in the German adult population. Subject and methods Cross-sectional da...

Aim Our aim was to investigate the association of climate anger with loneliness and perceived social isolation. Subject and methods We used data from the general adult population in Germany ranging fr...

Aim Artificial intelligence anxiety refers to fear due to challenges caused by AI-related changes in one’s own life. As the first study, our aim was to translate and validate the German version of the...

Treatment preferences and their determinants among adults with depression or anxiety in out-patient mental healthcare: systematic review - Volume 11 Issue 6

This study explored the preferences about features, policies, and location of long-term care (LTC) facilities among cis- and transgender individuals with different forms of sexual orientation, that is...

Aim To investigate the association between having animatronic pets and psychosocial outcomes in Germany. Subject and methods Data were collected from a quota-based sample reflecting the adult population of Germany (aged 18–74 years; total n = 5000). The mean age of participants was approximately 47 years (SD: 15 years). Validated and reliable psychometric instruments were used to measure psychosocial outcomes. Having animatronic pets served as the key independent variable. Adjusted linear regression models were used to analyze the relationships of interest. Results Compared to individuals who neither owned nor were interested in acquiring animatronic pets, both those without animatronic pets but who expressed interest in obtaining one and those who owned animatronic pets exhibited higher levels of depressive and anxiety symptoms, along with increased loneliness, perceived social isolation, and social withdrawal. Such differences were particularly pronounced for those with animatronic pets. Conclusion Individuals with interest in obtaining animatronic pets and those with animatronic pets had poorer psychosocial factors. Further studies are required to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Moreover, cross-country comparisons and longitudinal studies are recommended.

Background There is limited knowledge on the link between wealth, as well as income, and dementia risk among the oldest old (80 years and over). The purpose of our study was to examine the association...

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Loneliness (among men in particular) and social isolation were both associated with a lower desired age at death. Avoiding loneliness and isolation could lead to older people wanting to live longer.

Aim To examine the association of using AI tools exclusively for personal conversation with loneliness and perceived social isolation and social withdrawal. Subjects and methods We used data from a qu...

To synthesize studies examining the determinants of loneliness among older adults based on recent longitudinal observational studies.PRISMA guidelines…

AbstractObjectives. In this study, we aim to explore the associations between internalized care-related stigma, positive aspects of caregiving, caregiver b

Background Little attention has been paid to the association of job-related factors with loneliness and perceived social isolation. More specifically, studies are missing examining how professional en...

Aim Our aim was to examine the association of visiting comic conventions (including cosplay) and attending live-action role-playing games (LARPs) with psychosocial outcomes (in terms of mental health,...

Background: Tele#MentalHealth services effectively address major challenges in #MentalHealthcare delivery. To maximize the potential of the services, it is essential to facilitate patient use and reduce use disparities. Nevertheless, determinants of patient use of tele#MentalHealth services have been scarcely investigated thus far. Objective: We aimed to identify determinants of patient use of tele#MentalHealth services since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and currently. Methods: In December 2023, we conducted a cross-sectional, quota-based (gender and age group) online survey. The sample comprised individuals aged 18 to 74 years, who had been using #MentalHealth services since March 2020 (n=2,082). Tele#MentalHealth services use was assessed using items that inquired whether individuals had used the services since March 2020 or currently (in the last four weeks). Logistic regressions were computed to test the associations of socioeconomic, access, #Health, COVID-19-related, psychosocial, and service factors as well as personality, and provider characteristics with patient use. Results: Younger age, a more positive patient attitude towards tele#MentalHealth services, a more positive provider attitude towards and higher provider skills for using the services were positively associated with patient use of tele#MentalHealth services since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. When exclusively looking at current use, positive associations with full-time employment, lower neuroticism, a more positive provider attitude towards the services, and use of the services to avoid stigmatization, long waiting times, or inconvenient scheduling were observed. Access, #Health, and COVID-19-related factors were not associated with patient use (since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and currently). Conclusions: Beyond socioeconomic factors, personality and a positive patient attitude towards the services, patient use of tele#MentalHealth services was associated with a positive provider attitude towards and skills for using the services, which underscores the need for provider support and training in tele#MentalHealthcare. Furthermore, avoiding stigmatization and higher convenience of the services were associated with patient use, which highlights the substantial potential of the services to address current #MentalHealthcare challenges.

Background: Increasing patient satisfaction with tele#MentalHealth services is crucial for promoting widespread implementation and ensuring consistent utilization rates in the future, where the services could be a beneficial addition to routine #MentalHealthcare. Nevertheless, knowledge regarding determinants of patient satisfaction with tele#MentalHealth services is very limited. Objective: This study aimed to identify determinants of patient satisfaction with tele#MentalHealth services. Methods: A cross-sectional, quota-based (quotas: gender and age group) online survey was conducted in December 2023 in Germany. The sample included individuals aged 18-74 years who had received tele#MentalHealth services since March 2020 (n=854). Patient satisfaction with video, telephone, and asynchronous services was measured using the Telemedicine Satisfaction Questionnaire or the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire adapted to Internet-based interventions. The association of socioeconomic, access, #Health, psychosocial, personality, and COVID-19-related factors, as well as patient preferences and provider characteristics with patient satisfaction, was tested using multiple linear regressions. Results: A positive patient attitude towards tele#MentalHealth services and greater fear of COVID-19 as well as a positive and open provider attitude and higher provider skills for using the services were positively associated with patient satisfaction in all service groups (P

Background: During the #covid19 pandemic, telemedicine services represented a widely implemented alternative to in-person doctor and therapist appointments. Consequently, rates of telemedicine use rapidly increased worldwide, also in Germany. Research regarding longitudinal determinants of telemedicine use is needed, particularly from nationally representative German samples, to improve understanding of the use behavior of major target groups such as middle-aged and older adults. Objective: Therefore, this study aimed to longitudinally investigate determinants of online health consultation use among middle-aged and older individuals during the #covid19 pandemic in Germany. Methods: Nationally representative longitudinal data of German middle-aged and older adults (≥46 years old) were taken from the German Ageing Survey (DEAS). Data from the Compact Survey (conducted between June and July 2020) and wave 7 (conducted between November 2020 and March 2021) of the DEAS were observed (pooled analytic sample n=5,456). Having experienced consultations with doctors or therapists on online platforms served as the outcome measure. Associations with socioeconomic, health- and health behavior-related, psychological, and #covid19-related determinants were tested using random effects logistic regressions. Results: In our sample, 49% were female and the mean age of the participants was 67.8 years (SD=9.4). Past experience with online health consultations was reported by 10.3% of the sample. Online health consultation use was associated with high education (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.06-1.93, p=.019), poor self-rated health (OR 0.60, 95% CI 0.49-0.75, p

BackgroundPet-related stress refers to the stress of living with a pet. The aim of this study was to translate and validate the German version of the Pet-Rel...

Prevalence of loneliness and social isolation amongst individuals with severe mental disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis - Volume 34

André Hajek gilt als einer der führenden Forscher zum Thema Einsamkeit. Im Interview erklärt der UKE-Professor, warum Einsamkeit krank macht, wann Social-Media-Nutzung problematisch ist und was gegen ...

Background/Aims Particularly among the oldest old, there is restricted knowledge regarding the factors associated with mild cognitive impairment and dementia using data from large, nationally represen...

Background Oral health is essential to general health and well-being. The utilization of oral health care services represents an important factor in reducing oral health morbidities. In order to under...