Aim. In qualitative research, the authors identify the most frequent cases of homeless people staying on the street and identify general prejudices against homeless people who come into direct contact with the public. Methods. The study analyses and interprets the risk aspects of the real life of the homeless. Through qualitative research based on open coding, the creation of a system of categories, and analytical induction, the authors established a final hypotheses. Results. Studies confirm that homelessness affects not only the life of an individual, but also points to the experience of homeless society and the image of the homeless today. The authors analyse and identify the opinions of social workers who have experience with this target group. Conclusion. The scholarly and professional opinions and contributions in this study highlight the strength and diversity of homelessness. By conducting qualitative research, they identify prejudices against the homeless and the causes that contribute to homelessness.

Introduction Facing the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals are experiencing severe mental distress. Following social distancing and economic insecurity, significant increases in mental health concerns have developed. Objectives The aims of this study was to report the levels of depressive and anxiety within active population in Romania, and to identify possible risk and protective factors for mental health. Methods Data collection occurred between February-March 2021. The online survey included questions regarding socio-demographic characteristics and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). 620 responses were validated (331 students and 289 workers). Results Among active population, risk of anxiety symptoms is lower in those who already were infected with SARS-Cov2 (p=0.026, df=2, Phi=0.109), while positive screening for anxiety or depression in this study was statistically significant associated with younger age (p=0.026, df=4, Phi=0.134) and female gender (p=<0.001, df=2, Phi=0.166). Even though anxiety and depression scores are similar among students and employees, there are different aspects regarding symptomatology between these two groups. Students have experienced more frequently tendency to worry and sudden feelings of panic (p=0.004, df=3, Phi=0.146). Also, their ability to laugh and see the funny side of things is affected (p=0.019, df=3, Phi=0.127) and they feel less enthusiasm about future (p=0.001, df=3, Phi=0.159). Participants living with someone else scored lower on anxiety and depression subscales and those are not influenced by the person with whom they are cohabitating or residing (p=0.020, df=3, Phi=0.138). Conclusions Findings from the current study offer initial insights into the rates of anxiety and depression within active population in Romania, one year after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Disclosure No significant relationships.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic put considerable strain on individual mental health. The current study aimed to determine the prevalence and severity of insomnia symptoms among students and employees during this period. Methods: This paper is a cross-sectional analysis using convenience sampling. A web-based anonymous survey was developed and included questions about socio-demographic characteristics, contact with COVID-19, and the Athens Insomnia Scale. Results: 620 participants, 331 students, and 289 employees were included in the final sample. According to the current findings, 21.29% (n = 132) of participants met the criteria for insomnia, and 39.03% (n = 242) met the criteria for mild sleep disturbances. Conclusions: Although respondents reported an increased prevalence of sleep disorders, these changes were not directly related to the presence or severity of the infection but rather to a variety of socio-demographic and lifestyle-related variables. Students associated more frequently with the next-day consequences of insomnia (overall functioning and sleepiness during the day), while for employees, the most prevalent were awakenings during the night and early morning awakenings. Furthermore, sleep difficulties were more prevalent in women, single people, sedentary people, and those with psychiatric disorders.

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IntroductionWhile pregnancy itself is a risk factor in the development of anxiety disorders, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought additional pressure on expecting women. Despite these two independent factors, no study regarding their cumulative effect on anxiety in soon-to-be Romanian mothers exists.ObjectivesThis study intends to address this deficiency by measuring the level of anxiety in a sample of pregnant women from the public healthcare sector in Romania.MethodsSociodemographic data and Zung Self-reported Anxiety Scores (SAS) were used to look at 121 pregnant women to get a fuller picture of anxiety in pregnant women during the pandemic.ResultsSome of the main findings of the study are as follows: anxiety symptoms are more intense during the first trimester of pregnancy, especially in the psychological domain of the scale, as opposed to the third one. High BMI was weakly correlated with lower Zung Scale scores, while marital status and having other children were moderately correlated with less anxiety symptoms. While no association could be found between history of infection, vaccination and anxiety, surprisingly, unvaccinated women showed less psychological distress than vaccinated ones (moderate correlation), suggesting that less anxiety prone women are also less likely to get adequate protection. Getting one’s information from official sources also proved to be weakly correlated with higher Zung Scale scores.Image:Image 2:ConclusionsIn conclusions, the findings of this study can serve as a start for further inquiry regarding the impact of the COVID pandemic on the mental health of pregnant women.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared