Person: AKVARDAR, YILDIZ
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AKVARDAR
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YILDIZ
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Publication Metadata only Bilir kişi raporu(2020-09-01) MİDİ, İPEK; AKVARDAR, YILDIZ; İNANICI, MEHMET AKİF; İŞAK, BARIŞ; MİDİ İ., AKVARDAR Y., TOPÇUOĞLU V., İNANICI M. A., İŞAK B.Publication Open Access Impact of COVID-19 on the Life of Higher-Education Students in Istanbul: Relationship Between Social Support, Health-Risk Behaviors, and Mental/Academic Well-Being(AVES, 2021-11-01) YORGUNER, NEŞE; Bulut, Necati Serkut; Yorguner, Nese; Akvardar, YildizObjective:This study aimed to draw a general picture of the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the life of higher-education students in Istanbul, with specific emphasis on the relationship between students' social support systems, health-risk behaviors, and mental/academic well-being. Methods: A total of 2583 higher-education students from different fields of study participated in an online survey gathering information from several domains, including available social networks, support-seeking attitudes, substance use patterns, physical activity levels, academic stress, academic satisfaction, and psychological well-being during the pandemic. Results: Our findings pointed to major changes in students' life circumstances and daily routines during COVID-19, including a significant decrease in contact with friends, over-all substance use, and physical activity as well as high levels of depression, academic stress, and academic dissatisfaction. Depressive symptoms were significantly predicted by the loneliness score (OR= 2.08, 95% CI = 1.88-2.29), female gender (OR =1.65, 95% CI =1.21-2.24), frequency of binge drinking (OR =1.4, 95% CI = 1.06-1.86), and level of academic stress (OR =1.15, 95% CI =1.1-1.19), whereas the number of people to easily borrow money from was found to be a protective factor against depression (OR =0.95, 95% CI =0.92-0.99). Conclusion: Our results highlight the need for higher-education institutions to take the appropriate social and mental health interventions, tailored to fit the specific requirements of the COVID-19-related measures.Publication Metadata only Descriptive norms influence alcohol use among high-school students: a social norms study from Istanbul(Taylor and Francis Ltd., 2021) AKVARDAR, YILDIZ; Sönmez Güngör E., Tunca D., Çelebi C., Gündüz A., Karaer G., Kandemir G., Akvardar Y.Background: The social norms approach, which explores the influence of peer norms on health-compromising behaviors in youth, has been found to be effective in the prevention of drug and alcohol use. Our purpose was to identify the influence of peer norms on the tobacco, alcohol and drug use of high-school students. Methods: A sample of high school students in Istanbul were surveyed for their use of tobacco, alcohol and cannabis use. Sociodemographic variables, academic performance, daily life activities, descriptive and injunctive norms among students were assessed and relevant factors were evaluated using descriptive statistics and logistic regression models. Results: 213 students (105 males, 108 females, mean age 16.04 ± 0.96) filled in the questionnaire completely. The lifetime prevalence of tobacco and alcohol use were 29.9% and 30.9%, respectively. Higher perceived rates of peer alcohol use (descriptive norms) predicted higher lifetime alcohol use (OR: 1.17, 95% CI [1.11– 1.38], p = .04). Recent and lifetime use of tobacco significantly predicted recent and lifetime alcohol use (OR: 5.68, 95%CI [2.56–14.28], p < .01; OR: 9.60; 95%CI [3.09–29.89], p < .01). Conclusions: We found that students’ misperceptions about higher peer alcohol use facilitated their own alcohol use. Correcting such misperceptions can contribute to preventive measures in youth. © 2021 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.Publication Metadata only Is early marriage practice a problem for women living in Istanbul? A qualitative study(SPRINGER WIEN, 2021) BAYSAK, ERENSU; Baysak, Erensu; Yorguner, Nese; Kandemir, Guler; Denizman, Isik Akyollu; Akvardar, YildizEarly marriages (EM) adversely affect women's physical and mental health, education, and social status. The current study aimed to analyze effects of EM through the thoughts, experiences, and suggestions of women who were married under the age of eighteen in Istanbul, Turkey, and the key informants (e.g., social worker, psychologist, obstetrician) who have encountered EM. In-depth interviews were conducted with fifteen women who were married before age 18, recruited from psychiatry outpatient department and eleven key informants. Thematic analysis was used. Low educated, poor family environment with domestic violence and neglect of children, loss of parents, lack of access to education, and traditional social structure were stated as causes for EM. Families' attitudes about EM were characterized as their daughter's reputation would be tarnished which implied the daughter's premarital relationships would be perceived as immoral by community. All women experienced traditional, aggressive rituals for the first night of marriage, husbands were mostly insensitive, and coercive resulting a traumatic experience. Women were subjected to physical, sexual, psychological, and emotional violence; most of them were socially isolated after marriage with restrictions imposed by their spouses and spouses' family that limited communication with their loved ones. The women generally felt unprepared for adult sexual life and motherhood. In order to prevent EM, raising parents' awareness about EM, supporting girls' education, and enforcing legitimate regulations were recommended. Early marriages violate human rights, cause negative consequences for health both physically and mentally, and deepen social inequality for women. All the participants suggested a better functioning legislative arrangement. The male dominated society that legitimizes child marriages and other harmful traditional practices should be addressed.Publication Open Access Depressive symptoms in higher education students during the COVID-19 pandemic: the role of containment measures(2022-06-01) AKVARDAR, YILDIZ; Buffel V., Van de Velde S., AKVARDAR Y., Bask M., Brault M., Busse H., Chatzittofis A., Ladner J., Rabiee-khan F., Stathopoulou T., et al.Background Students are a vulnerable group for the indirect impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly their mental health. This paper examined the cross-national variation in students\" depressive symtoms and whether this can be related to the various protective measures implemented in response to the initial stage of the COVID-19 outbreak. Methods Student data stem from the COVID-19 International Student Well-being Study, covering 26 countries during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Country-level data on government responses to the COVID-19 pandemic were retrieved from the Oxford COVID-19 Tracker. Multilevel analyses were performed to estimate the impact of the containment and economic support measures on students\" depressive symptoms (n = 78 312). Results School and workplace closures, and stay-at-home restrictions were positively related to students\" depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic, while none of the economic support measures significantly related to depressive symptoms. Countries\" scores on the index of these containment measures explained 1.5% of the cross-national variation in students\" depressive symptoms (5.3%). This containment index\"s effect was stable, even when controlling for the economic support index, students\" characteristics, and countries\" epidemiological context and economic conditions. Conclusions Our findings raise concerns about the potential adverse effects of existing containment measures (especially the closure of schools and workplaces and stay-at-home restrictions) on students\" mental health.Publication Open Access The Relationship of Food Addiction With Other Eating Pathologies and Impulsivity: A Case-Control Study(FRONTIERS MEDIA SA, 2021-11-26) AKVARDAR, YILDIZ; Guengoer, Ekin Soenmez; Celebi, Cengiz; Akvardar, YildizThe concept of food addiction (FA) has become central in recent years in understanding the psychological etiology of obesity. In this matched case-control study from Turkey, it was aimed to examine the prevalence of FA and related risk factors in four consecutive body mass index (BMI) categories. The case group consisted of pre-operative bariatric surgery patients with BMI over 35.0 kg/m(2) (n = 40) and the control group was composed of age- and gender- matching individuals from the other categories, namely obese (n = 35), overweight (n = 40), and normal weight (n = 40). The Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS) and a standardized clinical interview using the DSM-5 substance use disorders criteria adopted for FA, the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDEQ) and the Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS-11) were used as assessment instruments. It was found that FA was significantly associated with more serious eating pathologies, more frequent weight-cycling and earlier onset of dieting, higher impulsivity, and higher BMI. Motor and total impulsivity scores showed a positive albeit week correlation with the severity of FA but no significant correlation with BMI, indicating a relationship between impulsivity and weight gain in some but not all individuals. The severity of FA predicted the increase in BMI. Our findings suggest that FA is associated with weight gain in a group of individuals, plausibly through impulsive overeating. Emphasis on FA and its clinical implications such as addiction-based treatments may improve outcomes in obesity and facilitate health promotion.Publication Metadata only Intimate partner violence during the COVID-19 pandemic: An online survey(2023-01-01) AKVARDAR, YILDIZ; Gungor E. S., YILMAZ KARAMAN İ. G., Erim B. R., Guvenc H. R., Ergul C., Laciner K., Oruc G. A., Altun F. D., Erkan A., Erzin G., et al.Objective:Intimate partner violence (IPV) against women is a human rights violation and a public health concern. The incidence of IPV increases in mass events such as epi-demics. The aim of this study was to assess the nature and the extent of IPV among women in Turkey; to iden-tify the associated factors, and mental health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method:The study has a cross-sectional, descriptive design. An online self -report survey, based on World Health Organization guid-ance on epidemiological studies to assess IPV, was con-ducted among women between 09.01.2021 and 09.02.2021. The survey had 69 questions which covered sociodemographic characteristics, relationship history, types of violence and mental well-being. Inclusion crite-ria were being over the age of 18, and having a spouse/partner during the pandemic. Participation was on voluntary basis. 1372 women were included in the analysis. Results:Around a third (30.7%) of participants were exposed to any type of violence before the pan-demic, with most common form being emotional vio-lence, and this rate remained unchanged during the pan-demic, despite the time spent with partners were expect-ed to increase due to isolation measures. 61 women (4.4%), mostly university graduates living in cities, reported being subject to violence for the first time dur-ing the pandemic. 31.2% of them were cases of digital violence. Lower level of education, younger age and partner\"s alcohol and substance use was associated with IPV, and IPV was associated with poorer mental well-being. Discussion:Despite the public health measures taken during the pandemic (e.g. lockdowns), where women would have spent more time isolated with their partners, rates of IPV did not change from pre-pandemic to pandemic. This outcome needs to be compared with findings from other contexts. Strategies to prevent IPV is of utmost importance for the protection of mental well-being of women and the society during and after the pandemic.Publication Metadata only Substance use disorders(Nova Science Publishers, 2021-01-01) AKVARDAR, YILDIZ; BULUT N. S., AKVARDAR Y.; Turan Yurtsever, NursenPublication Open Access Negative Consequences of Substance Use in European University Students: Results from Project SNIPE(KARGER, 2021) AKVARDAR, YILDIZ; McAlaney, John; Dempsey, Robert C.; Helmer, Stefanie M.; Van Hal, Guido; Bewick, Bridgette M.; Akvardar, Yildiz; Guillen-Grima, Francisco; Orosova, Ol'ga; Kalina, Ondrej; Stock, Christiane; Zeeb, HajoBackground: University students are a risk group for heavy substance use and the experience of various potentially severe negative substance use consequences which may impact on their health, social, and academic functioning. Whilst the experience of negative consequences of substance use is well understood in North American student samples, there is little data on these experiences in European students. In order to develop effective harm prevention and reduction interventions for students' substance use, there needs to be an understanding of the types of consequences experienced in European student samples. Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence and predictors of the experience of negative substance use-related consequences amongst university students in 7 European countries. Methods: University students (n = 4,482) in Belgium, Denmark, Germany, the Slovak Republic, Spain, Turkey, and the UK completed an online survey of their substance use behaviours and the experience of associated negative consequences. Results: European students reported that experiencing a hangover or illness, missing class, being short of money, and experiencing memory loss were the most commonly experienced negative consequences of substance use. Not living with other students and using alcohol, cannabis, sedatives, and cocaine were also associated with higher odds of experiencing these negative consequences. Conclusions: In contrast to North American data, European university students tended to experience consequences that are associated with lower level health risks rather than more severe consequences (e.g., drink-driving and physical injury). Harm prevention and reduction interventions for students should be targeted towards those consequences that are most salient to the target group to ensure feedback is relevant and potentially more effective in changing students' substance use behaviours.Publication Open Access An Analysis of the Psychosocial Challenges Faced by the University Students During COVID-19 Pandemic, and the Students' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Toward the Disease(TURKISH NEUROPSYCHIATRY ASSOC-TURK NOROPSIKIYATRI DERNEGI, 2021) YORGUNER, NEŞE; Yorguner, Nese; Bulut, Necati Serkut; Akvardar, YildizIntroduction: The aims of the present study were 1) to identify the major psychosocial challenges faced by students of a university in Istanbul, during the initial period of the COVID-19 outbreak, 2) to assess how these interacted with their level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward COVID-19 and the related health measures in place. Methods: As part of an international research, a total of 2583 university students from Istanbul participated in an online survey, which included questions in several domains including their studies and daily life before and after the outbreak, their concerns and worries about the pandemic, their level of knowledge on COVID-19, their views on the policies implemented by the government and their institution, their attitude and practices toward the protective measures. Results: Majority of the students reported to suffer from financial adversities due to the outbreak. The closure of residential facilities and the cancellation of face-to-face lectures resulted in the vast majority of the students moving back to their family home. Their daily routines were largely replaced by individual home activities, and social interactions shifted almost totally to digital platforms. They also reported high levels of anxiety and worries concerning a wide range of the possible detrimental outcomes of COVID-19, which were in close association with their knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards the disease, as well as their adherence to the policy measures and their satisfaction with the policies of the government. Conclusion: These results may help policymakers in better understanding the psychosocial impacts of COVID-19 on the life of university students, and to develop more comprehensive strategies to address their multifaceted struggles, as well as to improve their compliance with the health measures in the future.