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OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between sleep irregularity, anxiety, and depression while controlling for other sleep dimensions and using a longitudinal design. METHODS: Longitudinal cohort study which started in April 2020 during the first French lockdown in the general population. Follow-up questionnaires were completed in June 2020, a period without lockdown measures. Participants were asked about their sleep (regularity, duration, timing, complaints) and their anxiety (General Anxiety Disorder-7) and depressive (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) symptoms. RESULTS: A total of 3745 participants were included (mean age: 28.9 years) with 2945 women (78.6%). At baseline, 38.1% (1428) of participants reported irregular sleep timing, 23.8% (891) anxiety and 28.9% (1081) depressive symptoms. In cross-sectional analyses, irregular sleep timing was associated with a 2.5-fold higher likelihood of anxiety and a 4-fold higher likelihood of depressive symptoms compared to regular sleepers. Associations were not explained by the other sleep dimensions and persisted in a longitudinal analysis, with irregular sleep timing at baseline being associated with anxiety (OR = 3.27[1.58-6.76]) and depressive symptoms (OR = 3.45[1.66-7.19]) during follow-up. CONCLUSION: The results show a strong association between sleep irregularity and mental health. Furthers studies are needed to explore how sleep regularity could promote good mental health in non-clinical populations.

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BACKGROUND: Global crises, regardless of the place where they started to spread or of the factors that triggered them, require a comprehensive approach, primarily based on good communication, cooperation and mutual support. No individual and no institution should remain indifferent to crises but, on the contrary, be fully aware that any involvement in curbing them matters. Although humanity can be affected by various types of crises, in this paper we refer to the one related to COVID-19 pandemic. There are certain reasons that come to justify our choice: first of all, being a shock with a strong impact on people, its analysis should be performed from several angles; this may bring to light an image with its disparate propagation and measures to counteract it both in developed countries, and especially in those with a shortage of resources. Secondly, in the context of the emergence of vaccines against COVID-19, it is helpful to have an overview of COVID-19 through the lens of the relationship between the vaccination process and the elements that characterize governance, with a differentiated dashboard by country categories worldwide: low, middle and high-income countries. Our study is far from capturing the complexity arising from such social problem, but rather aims to outline the defining role of governance when it comes to providing firm reactions to the COVID-19 crisis. METHODS: Given that our sample consists of a large number of countries, namely 170, first, examined all together, and then, split into three groups (high, middle and low-income), it is challenging to address governance in association with COVID-19 vaccination, in order to see how much they interact and how each of the six aggregate governance indicators of the World Bank (Worldwide Governance Indicators) is reflected in this process. Even if they do not oscillate strongly over relatively short periods of time, reporting on health issues requires a sequential inventory, considering closer time intervals, so as to be able to act promptly. Thus, to better distinguish how the COVID-19 vaccination process evolved in low, middle and high-income countries, but also how it was imprinted by governance, we present the situation quarterly (March, June, September and December), in 2021, the year when the immunization campaigns were the most intense at the global level. Regarding the applied methods, we mention both OLS regressions with robust estimators and a panel model, used to investigate the determinants of COVID-19 vaccination, some of them describing the good governance, as well as other dimensions. RESULTS: The findings point out that the influence of governance on COVID-19 vaccination differs depending on whether a country belongs to high, middle or low-income typology: the strongest determinism of governance on vaccination is encountered in high-income countries, and the weakest in low-income ones; in some cases, governance does not matter significantly. However, exploring the three groups of states included in the research, it is observed that the most relevant factors in this relationship are government effectiveness, regulatory quality and control of corruption. CONCLUSIONS: Besides the order of importance of governance indicators on COVID-19 vaccination, our study indicates that, overall, governance positively shapes the vaccination rate at the level of the chosen sample. In normative terms, these findings can be translated particularly by the fact that they can serve as information to raise awareness on the relevance of the existence of an institutional framework that allows the formulation of strategies according to the patterns of each country, especially since the actionable tools depend on the available resources. As a general conclusion, public policies should be designed in such a way as to strengthen trust in vaccination regulations and in governments, to reduce the multifaceted negative effects of this health crisis and to hope for its total end.

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Background: After the lockdown, schools adopted measures to avoid infection, which changed pre-pandemic routines.We evaluated whether the new school conditions constituted a stress factor for children or contributed to their recoveryafter the impact of the lockdown period. Method: Participants included 291 families with children between 3 and 11years of age. The children were assessed by parents through the Child and Adolescent Assessment System (SENA)at three time points: T1 (before COVID-19 confinement), T2 (after the children had spent between 4 and 6 weeksconfined), and T3 (one year after the beginning of the pandemic). Results: For Preschoolers, no statistical differenceswere found in any scale or time point. For primary-school children, the differences between T1 and T3 were notsignificant. Comparisons between T2 and T3 showed significant differences in Willingness to study, Emotionalregulation and Hyperactivity and impulsivity. Conclusions: Our results suggest that returning to school might haveimproved some dimensions of primary-school children’s well-being. However, it seems that neither the confinementnor the restrictive measures have had a negative effect on our sample. To interpret these findings, we discuss thepsychological factors of protection and vulnerability.(AU)

Antecedentes: Tras el confinamiento, la escuela se adaptó a las restricciones para controlar el COVID-19. Evaluamos si elregreso al colegio constituyó un estresor para los niños o contribuyó a su recuperación tras el impacto del confinamiento.Método: Participaron 291 familias con niños entre 3 y 11 años. Los padres evaluaron a los niños a través del Sistemade Evaluación de Niños y Adolescentes (SENA) en tres momentos: T1 (unas semanas antes del confinamiento), T2(después de estar entre 4 y 6 semanas confinados) y T3 (un año después del inicio de la pandemia). Resultados: Paralos niños de Infantil, las comparaciones no mostraron diferencias en ninguna de las escalas y ninguno de los tiemposevaluados. Para los niños de Primaria, no se hallaron diferencias entre T1 y T3. La comparación entre T2 y T3 indicóuna mejora en las escalas Disposición al estudio, Regulación emocional e Hiperactividad e impulsividad. Conclusiones:La vuelta al colegio contribuyó a mejorar algunas dimensiones en los niños de Primaria. Sin embargo, parece que ni elconfinamiento ni las posteriores medidas restrictivas han tenido un impacto negativo en los niños de esta muestra. Parainterpretar estos resultados discutimos los factores de protección y vulnerabilidad psicológica.(AU)

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Governments during the Covid-19 pandemic in response to the challenge of reaching as many of their citizens as quickly as possible have relied on the use of digital media communication. Various stakeholders, however, have questioned whether strategic use of digital communication by governments has been effective during the Covid-19 health crisis. We thematically analyzed a public online bi-country webinar and conducted a netnographic analysis of South African Health Minister Dr. Zweli Mkhize and Namibian Ministry of Health and Social Services Twitter accounts to evaluate the effectiveness of government digital communication during the Covid-19 pandemic. Stakeholders and social media analysis highlight that government digital communication has lacked engagement, falling short in assisting citizens to understand the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. We highlight the shortcomings of governments simply transmitting information on channels built for dialogue, the digital divide limiting reach, as well as how limited engagement opens up opportunities for misinformation.

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Background: Nursing homes were particularly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study was to evaluate qualitatively and quantitatively with the use of a self-reported questionnaire as a tool for screening for mental disorders in nursing home staff. Methods: A multicenter epidemiological study was conducted in 12 nursing homes in France with 1117 nursing home staff eligible. Socio-demographic, occupational, and medical data were collected by anonymous self-reported questionnaire using validated scales to assess anxiety/depressive symptoms (HAD scale) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PCL-5). A total of 12 semi-structured interviews were conducted to assess acceptance and expectations for the use of the questionnaire. Results: The participation rate was 34.5%. Data from 373 questionnaires were included in the analysis. The questionnaire was well accepted by the participants and met their wishes for prevention action. The sample was 82% female. More than half reported a feeling of powerlessness and lack of time or staffing. The prevalence of anxiety symptoms was 22%, depressive symptoms 10%, and post-traumatic stress 7%. Conclusions: This study underlines the interest in screening for mental disorders by self-reported questionnaire and deploying preventive actions in the workplace to reduce stress and facilitate the reconciliation of family and working life in this context of the pandemic.

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In this paper we draw a parallel between the insights developed within the framework of the current COVID-19 health crisis and the views and insights developed with respect to the long term environmental crisis, the implications for science, technology and innovation (STI) policy, Christopher Freeman analyzed already in the early 90's. With at the time of writing, the COVID-19 pandemic entering in many countries a third wave with a very differentiated implementation path of vaccination across rich and poor countries, drawing such a parallel remains of course a relatively speculative exercise. Nevertheless, based on the available evidence of the first wave of the pandemic, we feel confident that some lessons from the current health crisis and its parallels with the long-term environmental crisis can be drawn. The COVID-19 pandemic has also been described as a " syndemic ": a term popular in medical anthropology which marries the concept of 'synergy' with 'epidemic' and provides conceptually an interesting background for these posthumous Freeman reflections on crises. The COVID-19 crisis affects citizens in very different and disproportionate ways. It results not only in rising structural inequalities among social groups and classes, but also among generations. In the paper, we focus on the growing inequality within two particular groups: youngsters and the impact of COVID-19 on learning and the organization of education; and as mirror picture, the elderly many of whom witnessed despite strict confinement in long-term care facilities, high mortality following the COVID-19 outbreak. From a Freeman perspective, these inequality consequences of the current COVID-19 health crisis call for new social STI policies: for a new "corona version" of inclusion versus exclusion.

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BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of psychological distress in medical students during the COVID-19 health crisis and to identify factors associated with psychological distress. METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study was presented to 1814 medical students (from first to sixth year) in a French university hospital center. Sociodemographic, occupational and medical information (psychological distress measured on the French GHQ12 scale) were collected via an online anonymous self-administered questionnaire. Variables associated with psychological distress were investigated using univariate analysis and multivariate analysis (modified Poisson regression). RESULTS: In total, 832 medical students responded (46%) and 699 completed the questionnaire in full (39%); 625 (75%) showed signs of psychological distress and 109 (15%) reported suicidal ideation. Female gender, psychological trauma during the COVID-19 health crisis, change in alcohol consumption, and difficulties with online learning emerged as risk factors for psychological distress, whereas a paid activity, a feeling of mutual aid and cooperation within the studies framework, and recognition of work appeared to be protective factors. CONCLUSIONS: Mental health care or suicide prevention should be provided to students at risk in the aftermath of the pandemic. Knowing the educational and medical factors associated with psychological distress enables areas for prevention to be identified.

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In this paper, we attempt to analyze the dynamic interplay between Bitcoin, social media, and the Covid-19 health crisis. For this end, we apply the fractional autoregressive vector model, fractional error correction model and impulse response functions on daily data over the period 31/12/2019-30/10/2020. Our results clearly show the short- and long-term evidence of the nexus between the Bitcoin price, social media metrics (Tweets and Google Trends) and the intensity of the Covid-19 pandemic. As well, the Covid-19 pandemic does not impact on social media metrics in the short- and long-term. On the other hand, the Covid-19 pandemic positively affects social media metrics. Also, the Covid-19 pandemic encourages investing in digital currencies such as Bitcoin. So, the Covid-19 health crisis significantly influences social media networks and Bitcoin prices.

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According to the continuity hypothesis of dreaming and contemporary psychodynamic approaches, dreams reflect waking life. The aim of the present study was to explore the relationship between the COVID-19 pandemic and dreaming in adolescents. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Italy, Romania and Croatia involving 2,105 secondary school students (69% girls, mean age 15.6 ± 2.1 years; 31% boys, mean age 15.1 ± 2.2 years; mean age of whole sample 15.4 ± 2.1 years). No substantial differences between countries were found. Thirty-one percent of the participants reported heightened dream recall, 18% noticed an increase in nightmares during the lockdown, and 15% of the provided dreams (n = 498) included pandemic-related content. The results indicate that subjective emotional reactions to lockdown had a significantly higher correlation to dreaming than objective distress (i.e., illness or death of a close one because of COVID-19). These findings suggest that attention to dreams should be included in preventive programs for adolescents with pandemic-related stress.

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Spain has been one of the countries most affected by the health crisis derived from COVID-19. Within this country, the city of Madrid has registered the highest number of infections and deaths. This circumstance led to the adoption of strict confinement measures for a period of 6 weeks. The objective of the present study was to investigate the psychological effects that this confinement has had on the psychological well-being of a sample of children from Madrid. A total of 167 families with children aged between 3 and 11 years participated in this study. The parents evaluated the children through the System of Evaluation of Children and Adolescents (SENA) scale in the month of February and refilled part of the same scale after the children had spent between 4 and 6 weeks confined. The comparison between the two measures showed no change among the 3-year-old children. However, change was observed among the 6-10-year-old. Children in Primary Education obtained lower scores in dimensions related to self-regulation (emotional, attentional, and behavioral) and in willingness to study. The results are discussed in light of the situation experienced between the months of March and May 2020.