Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41644683›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2026

A network analysis of the associations between COVID-19-related variables and health across sex, age and educational levels among Ghanaian youths.

Jiajia Ye, I-Hua Chen, Po-Ching Huang, Emma Sethina Adjaottor, Frimpong-Manso Addo, Ishmael Ronald Ahorsu, Mark D Griffiths, Wanqing Lin, Daniel Kwasi Ahorsu, Chung Ying Lin

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Article in Scientific reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Jiajia Ye *Department of Rehabilitation assessments, Rehabilitation Hospital Affiliated to Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China.
I-Hua Chen *Chinese Academy of Education Big Data, Faculty of Education, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, China.
Po-Ching HuangDepartment of Physiotherapy, School of Nursing and Health Sciences, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, 1, Sheung Shing Street, Homantin,, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR.
Emma Sethina AdjaottorDepartment of Behavioural Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. emmaabenaadjaottor@gmail.com.
Frimpong-Manso AddoDepartment of Behavioural Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
Ishmael Ronald AhorsuSchool of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.
Mark D GriffithsPsychology Department, Nottingham Trent University, 50 Shakespeare St, Nottingham, NG1 4FQ, UK.
Wanqing LinDepartment of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Rehabilitation Hospital Affiliated to Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China. 13960829639@139.com.
Daniel Kwasi AhorsuDepartment of Special Education and Counselling, The Education University of Hong Kong, 10 Lo Ping Road, Tai Po, N.T., Hong Kong. dkahorsu@eduhk.hk.
Chung Ying LinInstitute of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 1, University Rd., Tainan, 701401, Taiwan.

Funding

High-Level Key Discipline Construction Project in TCM Rehabilitation under the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine Ref. zyyzdxk-2023102
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has had far-reaching impacts on global health, affecting not only physical well-being but also exacerbating mental health issues. The present study investigated the associations between COVID-19-related variables and health outcomes across different sex, age, and education levels. The cross-sectional survey study was conducted from June to August 2022, comprising 1,326 participants aged 12 to 28 years in Ghana. Participants completed psychometric measures assessing fear of COVID-19, psychological distress, perceived stigma, self-stigma, preventive behaviors, believing COVID-19 information, vaccination acceptance, and quality of life. Network analysis indicated that COVID-19-related stress was positively associated with fear of COVID-19, psychological distress, and COVID-19-related self-stigma. The fear of COVID-19 was positively associated with preventive COVID-19 behaviors, COVID-19-related self-stigma, and believing COVID-19 information, while psychological distress was positively associated with COVID-19-related self-stigma but negatively associated with both physical and mental quality of life. Physical quality of life was negatively associated with COVID-19-related perceived stigma and COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. These network structures varied across sex, age, and educational levels. COVID-19-related stress had the highest centrality across four indices. In sum, the present study highlighted the interconnectedness of COVID-19-related variables and health factors among young people in Ghana. COVID-19-related stress appeared to be a pivotal determinant of psychological well-being. Stress related to the COVID-19 pandemic served as a key determinant of psychological well-being. The differences in network structures across sex, age, and education levels highlighted the importance of tailored health interventions. Further research employing longitudinal study designs and targeting diverse populations are needed to observe the dynamic associations between health-related variables over time.

Indexed as

COVID-19AdolescentAdultAge FactorsChildCross-Sectional StudiesEducational StatusFemaleGhanaHumansMaleMental HealthPsychological DistressQuality of LifeSARS-CoV-2Sex FactorsCOVID-19Mental healthNetwork analysisWell-beingYoung population

Identifiers

PMID41644683
PMCPMC12923858

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