Objectives: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID 19) is a new viral zoonosis of global concern that could cause psychological sequelae. We examined the levels of psychological distress, anxiety, depression, and stress during the COVID-19 outbreak in a Mexican sample.Methods: An online survey was applied that collected information on demographic and financial status data, physical status, contact history, knowledge, concerns, and precautionary measures concerning COVID-19. Impact of Event Scale-Revised and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale were included.Results: A total of 50.3% of respondents rated psychological distress as moderate-severe; 15.7% reported moderate-severe depressive symptoms; 22.6% reported moderate-severe anxiety symptoms; and 19.8% reported moderate-severe stress levels. Female gender, older age, divorced status, lack of confidence related to security of the test, lower satisfaction of health information concerning COVID-19, history of direct or indirect contact with a COVID-19 confirmed case, live with just 1 other person, and spent >9 h/d at home were associated with greater psychological distress and/or higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. By contrast, precautionary measures, such as hand hygiene and wearing masks, were associated with lower levels of psychological distress, depression, anxiety, and stress.Conclusions: COVID-19 outbreak results in considerable psychological effects among the Mexican sample.

COVID-19 has spread throughout the world, resulting in significant morbidity, mortality, and negative psychological effects among general population. However, university students are particularly vulnerable in terms of mental health. The present study evaluated the association between mental health, quality of sleep, aggression, and physical activity in university students in Mexico after 1 year of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico, including a gender-sensitive analysis. Participants (935 university students) completed an online questionnaire which collected information regarding demographic data, psychological distress (IES-R scale), depression, anxiety, and stress (DASS-21), aggressiveness Buss-Perry Aggressive Questionnaire, sleep quality (PSQI) and physical activity (IPAQ-S). Findings showed that female students showed significantly higher scores in psychological distress, anxiety, stress scores and sleep quality, as compared to male students. By contrast, male students showed significantly higher scores on aggressiveness than female students. In addition, on physical activity, females performed significantly higher MET-min/week on moderate and high levels. Finally, liner regression model accounted for approximately 73.5% of the variance in DASS-21 scores, with the body mass index, IES-R, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and IPAQ subscales, emerging as significant individual (positive) predictors. Therefore, the pandemic affected female and male students differently. Female students reported more psychological distress, anxiety, and stress while male students reported higher aggressiveness. The differences observed may be due to physiological differences, the response to stress, and differences in sensitivity to life events.

Objectives: The present study examined the psychological effects and identify factors associated with worse outcomes, during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in Mexican nurses involved in fighting against COVID-19.Methods: An anonymous online questionnaire was applied through an online survey, which collected information regarding basic information, traumatic distress response (IES-R scale), emotional exhaustion (MBI-EE), and psychological distress (K10 scale).Results: Results showed that 46.72% of nurses reported moderate-severe traumatic distress response, 42.40% of nurses evidenced a high level of emotional exhaustion, and 41.78% showed moderate-severe psychological distress. Nurses who have >2 children, an increase in working hours due to COVID-19, increase in tobacco and alcohol consumption, and presence of a confirmed and suspected case of COVID-19 in their workplace showed worse outcomes.Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that a large portion of nurses in Mexico is suffering from psychological disturbances due to the COVID-19 outbreak. In the face of a health crisis, not seen in several years in Mexico, the proper psychological well-being of the nursing staff at this vulnerable time is essential.

The COVID-19 outbreak significantly impacted people’s lives. Within the education system, the teaching mode drastically changed to adapt to the social distancing restrictions due to the pandemic. Consequently, teachers have been facing challenges associated with remote learning in addition to those of the pandemic. The aim of the present study was to assess the psychological state among teachers at two stages: pre-pandemic (November 2019) and during the pandemic (June-July 2020 and June-July 2021). Information regarding demographic data, depression, anxiety, and stress (DASS-21), and burnout syndrome (MBI-ES) was collected using validated questionnaires. Results showed a significantly higher scores as well as a higher prevalence in the DASS-21 and the MBI-ES scales, on the second measurement taken during the pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period and the first evaluation during the pandemic. During the second evaluation on pandemic stage, female teachers of ≥45 years of age with a college-level of education, 11 years of teaching experience, and currently teaching at preschools and primary schools were significantly associated with higher anxiety, stress, EE, and burnout scores. In addition, female teachers aged ≥45 years reported higher PD and PA scores. Finally, an association between burnout syndrome and depression was identified in the evaluations carried out during the pandemic considering both the total sample and the analysis per gender. The study shows that teachers’ mental health has been negatively affected by the pandemic. Efforts from the education system and health authorities are crucial to design and implement strategies to improve teachers’ mental health during the fight against COVID-19.

The development of depression and anxiety symptoms during long COVID may partly result from the biopsychosocial effects of COVID-19 that impact mental health, rather than from the infection alone.T...

A high-fat diet (HFD) during pregnancy influences the neurodevelopment of progeny, particularly in the hippocampus, a brain region involved in cognitive processes. The hippocampus has high levels of leptin receptors (Ob-R) that participate in synaptic plasticity. This study examined the effect of maternal HFD during gestation on Ob-R expression in the CA1 and CA3 hippocampal regions, and its relationship with spatial learning and memory in the offspring. We used 48 rat pups: 24 from dams fed a balanced diet (BD, 6.2% fat) and 24 from those fed an HFD (42% fat) during pregnancy. We recorded weight gain and food intake in each pup every day beginning on postnatal day 3 (PND 3). Memory acquisition was assessed on PND 28 and memory retention on PND 42 in the Morris water maze (MWM). Then, 12 pups per group were selected randomly and subjected to bioimpedance spectroscopy. The remaining offspring was perfused to determine Ob-R expression levels in the CA1 and CA3 hippocampal regions. Interestingly, HFD pups had significantly higher weight gain, food intake, and fat mass than BD offspring. Interestingly, the HFD group showed poor memory performance, which correlated with changes in the Ob-R expression in both hippocampal regions. These data indicate that maternal exposure to HFD impacts neurodevelopmental and cognitive functions of the offspring.