scholarly journals Covid-19, social distancing and the ‘scientisation’ of touch: Exploring the changing social and emotional contexts of touch and their implications for social work

2020 ◽  
pp. 147332502097332
Author(s):  
Lorraine Green ◽  
Lisa Moran
Keyword(s):  
The Elderly ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Domestic Sphere ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Social And Emotional ◽  
Homes For The Elderly ◽  
Marginalised Groups ◽  
The Government ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
The Uk

In this paper, we reflect on ‘scientific’ governmental and media responses to Covid-19 in the UK, illuminating their negative impacts on complex and emergent touch forms/practices and people’s related emotions. The scientisation of the pandemic led to the government initially placing the country in lockdown and enforcing social distancing. It thereby regulated and proscribed routine and normative touch practices in order to save lives. However, such strategies were not accompanied by an awareness that increased touch deprivation could be emotionally harmful, that lockdown could exacerbate abusive touch in the privatised familial domestic sphere, and that paid care-giver touch in other contexts, such as care homes for the elderly, could also be potentially lethal. These negative consequences are important for social workers to understand and appropriately respond to, as they disproportionately impact vulnerable and marginalised groups and are heightened for service users, who are frequently members of many disadvantaged groups simultaneously.

scholarly journals Allocation of COVID-19 vaccination: when public prioritisation preferences differ from official regulations

2021 ◽  
pp. medethics-2021-107339
Author(s):  
Philipp Sprengholz ◽  
Lars Korn ◽  
Sarah Eitze ◽  
Cornelia Betsch
Keyword(s):  
The Elderly ◽  
Public Acceptance ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
German Government ◽  
Public Preferences ◽  
Homes For The Elderly ◽  
The Social ◽  
High Age ◽  
Allocation Preferences ◽  
The Government

As vaccines against COVID-19 are scarce, many countries have developed vaccination prioritisation strategies focusing on ethical and epidemiological considerations. However, public acceptance of such strategies should be monitored to ensure successful implementation. In an experiment with N=1379 German participants, we investigated whether the public’s vaccination allocation preferences matched the prioritisation strategy approved by the German government. Results revealed different allocations. While the government had top-prioritised vulnerable people (being of high age or accommodated in nursing homes for the elderly), participants preferred exclusive allocation of the first available vaccines to medical staff and personnel caring for the elderly. Interestingly, allocation preferences did not change when participants were told how many individuals were included in each group. As differences between allocation policies and public preferences can affect trust in the government and threaten the social contract between generations, we discuss possible strategies to align vaccination prioritisations.

scholarly journals What drives support for social distancing? Pandemic politics, securitization, and crisis management in Britain

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-21
Author(s):  
Georgios Karyotis ◽  
John Connolly ◽  
Sofía Collignon ◽  
Andrew Judge ◽  
Iakovos Makropoulos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crisis Management ◽  
Public Attitudes ◽  
Public Support ◽  
Personal Health ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Formative Stage ◽  
Securitization Theory ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Support for social distancing measures was, globally, high at the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic but increasingly came under pressure. Focusing on the UK, this article provides a rigorous exploration of the drivers of public support for social distancing at their formative stage, via mixed methods. Synthesizing insights from crisis management and securitization theory, thematic analysis is employed to map the main frames promoted by the government and other actors on the nature/severity, blame/responsibility, and appropriate response to the pandemic, which ‘follows the science’. The impact of these on public attitudes is examined via a series of regression analyses, drawing on a representative survey of the UK population (n = 2100). Findings challenge the prevailing understanding that support for measures is driven by personal health considerations, socio-economic circumstances, and political influences. Instead, crisis framing dynamics, which the government is well-positioned to dominate, have the greatest impact on driving public attitudes.

scholarly journals The epileptic multifactorial patient’s burden. Review of the topic

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Pimentel
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Childbearing Age ◽  
Unexpected Death ◽  
Neurologic Diseases ◽  
Clonic Seizures ◽  
Negative Impacts

Summary Background. Approximately 26% of the burden of neurologic diseases is due to epilepsy. Its negative impact reflects mainly on people with epilepsy (PWE) themselves. Aims. To highlight the negative impacts of epilepsy on the lives of PEW’s so as to identify a realistic approach to their individual needs. Methods. For recently published papers PubMed and MEDLINE databases were used. In addition relevant references mentioned in the searched articles were also considered. Review and discussion. Generalized tonic-clonic seizures and refractory epilepsy are the most important factors burdening PWE’s, resulting in increased injuries and mortality, including Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP). The need of chronic intake of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and of epilepsy surgery are also important with regards to potential for side effects, drug interactions, and different surgery risks. PWE harbour more medical and psychiatric comorbidities than the general population and results in a decreased quality of life. Decreased self-esteem and major stigma are also frequent, linked to social, economic and personal negative consequences. Age also plays a role, younger people being more stigmatized given the interdiction to drive or difficulty in getting a job. In the elderly, seizures may have an impact on mental status, mood and sleep. Gender may also contribute, particularly involving women in childbearing age, linked to the fear or depression due to the possibility of AED-induced fertility disturbances, foetal malformations, or breast feeding side-effects. Conclusions. The burden that PWE face must be considered by all people involved in the management of their epilepsy. The causes may be multifactorial, all interconnected and each one influencing the others.

scholarly journals [The Need of Psychospiritual in Managing Secondary Traumatic Stress (Sts) for Covid-19 Counselor Workers] Keperluan Persediaan Psikospiritual Dalam Pengurusan Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS) Bagi Kaunselor Petugas Covid-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 216-226
Author(s):  
Syed Mohammad Hilmi Syed Abdul Rahman ◽  
Che Zarrina Sa'ari ◽  
Mohd Anuar Ramli ◽  
Zuraida Ahmad Sabki ◽  
Muhammad Hazim Mohd Azhar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Secondary Traumatic Stress ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Emotional Suffering ◽  
Counselling Services ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Government ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Trauma Disorders ◽  
Community Pressure

Abstract Pandemic of COVID-19 unspecifically has a physical effect on its sufferers, however it has negative impacts towards the mental and psychological of sufferers. To alleviate community pressure, the government and some NGOs are responsible for providing counselling services as psychological support. Counsellors, on the other hand, are continuously exposed to trauma disorders as a result of the conduct of counselling sessions, even though they do not directly experience it. Secondary Traumatic Stress, or STS for short, is a disease that refers to emotional distress caused by the emotional suffering of others. This impact was created because the client was given attention and compassion, as well as strong incentive to help ease the patient's pain. If no special preparation is given, the patient is vulnerable to the onset of STS symptoms, which have negative consequences on the physical, cognitive, mental, behavioural, social, and spiritual levels. As a result, during the COVID-19 pandemic era, a study that provides preparatory recommendation for counsellors dealing with a wide range of clients during the COVID-19 pandemic period is much needed. This research focuses on a data collection procedure in a library based on the theory of Secondary Traumatic Stress and the COVID-19 pandemic. This study argues that counsellors receive psychospiritual support training in order to satisfy the demands of Secondary Traumatic Stress Disorder in the COVID-19 pandemic period. Keywords: COVID-19, traumatic, psychospiritual, mental health, sympathy     Abstrak   Wabak COVID-19 bukan sahaja memberi kesan berbentuk fizikal kepada para pengidapnya, malah turut memberi impak negatif kepada mental dan psikologi. Bagi mengurangkan tekanan kepada masyarakat, pihak kerajaan dan beberapa NGO menggalas tanggungjawab memberikan perkhidmatan kaunseling sebagai sokongan psikologi. Namun begitu, pada hakikatnya para kaunselor turut terdedah dengan gangguan trauma secara berterusan akibat daripada pengendalian sesi kaunseling yang dijalankan walaupun tidak mengalaminya secara langsung. Gangguan tersebut dikenali sebagai Secondary Traumatic Stress atau singkatannya STS yang merujuk kepada penderitaan emosi kerana penderitaan emosi orang lain. Kesan ini lahir kerana perhatian dan simpati yang diberikan kepada klien disertai galakan yang kuat untuk menolong meringankan penderitaan pesakit. Sekiranya tidak disediakan persediaan yang khusus, ini mendedahkan kepada peletusan simptom STS yang memberi implikasi negatif kepada fizikal, kognitif, emosi, perilaku, sosial dan spiritual. Sehubungan itu, kajian yang memberikan cadangan persediaan bagi kaunselor yang berdepan dengan pelbagai klien yang ramai dalam tempoh pandemik COVID-19 adalah sangat diperlukan. Kajian ini menumpukan kepada proses pengumpulan data perpustakaan yang memfokus kepada teori Secondary Traumatic Stress dan pandemik COVID-19. Kajian ini mengemukakan cadangan mengambil persediaan sokongan psikospiritual bagi kaunselor dalam mendepani cabaran gangguan Secondary Traumatic Stress di era pandemik COVID-19. Kata kunci: COVID-19, traumatik, psikospiritual, kesihatan mental, simpati

scholarly journals I’ll be Good for Grandma: Institutional and Relational Trust and COVID-19 Restriction Compliance

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derly M Andrade-Molina ◽  
Juan Carlos Fernandez-Cadena ◽  
Mario A Fernandez ◽  
Lauren A Rhodes ◽  
Gonzalo E Sanchez
Keyword(s):  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Relational Trust ◽  
Health Campaigns ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Medical Assistance ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Improve Compliance ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Military ◽  
Unique Dataset

Abstract behavior with health campaigns. We examine Guayaquil, Ecuador which was hit particularly hard in the first few months of the pandemic. As lockdowns and social distancing led families to rely on others to secure food or medical assistance, perceptions on trust and the dynamics of social capital during the initial (and worst) months of the pandemic were particularly important. Methods: This paper uses a unique dataset of people receiving a COVID test after suspicion of infection. People in our dataset were active during the height of the pandemic and faced the possibility of needing to rely on others in the case of testing positive. We use regression analysis to study the relation between compliance with mobility restrictions and institutional and relational trust.Results: We find that trusting that close relations (such as family) will be there for you in the case of falling ill is associated with a significant increase in the probability of complying with health campaigns. Additionally, we find that trust in the government has a weak relationship to compliance. However, compliance decreases when examining increased trust in the police but increases with trust in the military.Conclusions: The findings show that enhancing trust may improve compliance with social distancing measures. However, increasing trust in specific groups could have negative consequences. Importantly, compliance could be increased by emphasizing in campaigns that your behavior could influence the health of those who you care about.

scholarly journals Exploring the Social and Emotional Representations Used by the Elderly to Deal With the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amaia Eiguren ◽  
Nahia Idoiaga ◽  
Naiara Berasategi ◽  
Maitane Picaza
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Free Association ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Social And Emotional ◽  
The North ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Government ◽  
Emotional Representations ◽  
Age Range ◽  
North Of Spain

Spain has become one of the European epicenters of coronavirus (COVID-19), a virus that particularly affects the elderly, since this group accounts for the majority of hospitalized cases and has the highest mortality rates. Therefore, the aim of this research is to understand how elderly people represent and emotionally cope with COVID-19 during the days when the pandemic emerged in Spain. Using a qualitative methodology, a free association exercise elicited by the word “COVID-19” was completed by 115 participants (age range: 60–85 years) from the North of Spain. Lexical analysis was used to analyze the content. The results revealed that the government and the mass media are criticized for failing to communicate a clear message, and for giving out information that is both insufficient and contradictory. However, participants are clear that it is essential to follow the guidelines of the scientists and doctors, which are represented as credible sources. However, when the state of alarm and the lockdown of all citizens was declared, most of the participants represented the risk as being associated with the elderly and the pandemic became something that might also affect their families. Due to these circumstances, negative emotions appear such as fear, nervousness, uncertainty, restlessness, and insecurity. Feelings of solitude and loneliness also emerged, and these are represented as being linked to death. These results indicate the need for governments to manage the current situation with the elderly by placing greater emphasis on social and inclusive policies to help alleviate the possible effects of the pandemic and the lockdown.

Caught between two fronts: successful aging in the time of COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 273-280
Author(s):  
Lukas Richter ◽  
Theresa Heidinger
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Successful Aging ◽  
Secondary Analysis ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Severity Of The Disease

Purpose The COVID-19 pandemic poses a great challenge for older people both in terms of the severity of the disease and the negative consequences of social distancing. Assumptions about negative effects on the lives of the elderly, affecting dimensions of successful aging (such as the preservation of social relationships), have thus far been hypothetical and have lacked empirical evidence. The aim of this paper is to shed empirical light on the effects of COVID-19 on the everyday life of older people against the background of the concept of successful aging. Design/methodology/approach Data of a standardized, representative telephone survey with residents of Lower Austria, a county of Austria, were used for this secondary analysis. The sample included 521 persons of 60 years of age and older. For this paper, contingency analyses (χ² coefficients, z-tests using Bonferroni correction) and unidimensional correlational analyses were calculated. Findings The empirical data show that successful aging along the three dimensions of successful aging is a challenge in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic – leaving the elderly caught between two fronts. Originality/value The present work focusses on a unique moment in time, describing the changes to the lives of Austrian elderly because of the social distancing measures imposed to protect against the spread of COVID-19. These changes are discussed in the theoretical framework of successful aging.

Health Conditions, Medication and Hospitalisation Preferences of Elderly in Kerala

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 308-324
Author(s):  
V. P. Sanitha ◽  
J. K. Parida ◽  
I. C. Awasthi
Keyword(s):  
Elderly Population ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Public Provision ◽  
Marginalised Groups ◽  
The Government

This article intends to study the health conditions, medication and hospitalisation preferences, and the determinants of medication preferences of the elderly population in Kerala. It is based on the primary data collected from a sample of 801 households and three old-age homes (OAHs) in three districts of the state, namely Kozhikode, Ernakulum and Trivandrum. The evidence suggests that the elderly population are vulnerable to various chronic diseases and they tend to spend more on healthcare. In the absence of public provision of effective healthcare services in Kerala, the elderly spend out-of-pocket on health expenses and choose private hospitals for effective and better treatment. However, those who prefer government hospitals mostly belong to poor and marginalised groups, including the inmates of OAHs. With regard to the type of medicines, the elderly often prefer Ayurveda and Homeopathy to Allopathy medicines. Based on these findings, we suggest that the government intervention in terms of more health care facilities and health insurance schemes for the elderly is necessary to improve their quality of life.

scholarly journals COVID – 19 Impact: Domestic violence and the BAME community

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bindu Devkota Sapkota
Keyword(s):  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Frontline Workers ◽  
Long Time ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Minority Ethnic ◽  
Disproportionate Burden

The Coronavirus disease which started in Wuhan, China, was declared a pandemic on 11th March 2020. Since then the world has come together for the trial and approval of vaccination. Meanwhile, the adopted approach to prevent and slow down the coronavirus is social distancing, handwashing, and use of face masks. In the UK, the government, together with the National Health Service (NHS), have taken various approaches to prevent and slow down the spread of coronavirus. These included imposing a ‘lockdown’ of the country (e.g. closure of schools, businesses, parks, leisure centres), along with the emphasis on handwashing, social distancing, the use of face masks and only permitting essential travel within the UK and between the UK and other countries. These approaches have been undertaken to varying extents and within different timeframes across the four nations of the UK.  Like many other countries worldwide, the UK was not prepared for such pandemics which resulted in the inability to assess the most appropriate approach to contain the spread, including the availability of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for frontline workers, particularly those in health care. As the crisis continues several striking social issues have emerged which may, in part, be a consequence of the measures taken.  These include the escalation in domestic violence (DV) and disproportionate burden of disease among the Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community. The impact of Covid-19 may remain for a long time if appropriate measures are not put in place to address the health inequalities in time.

scholarly journals Social and medical aspects of elderly age: obesity and professional longevity

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 10-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irina V. Leskova ◽  
Natalya V. Mazurina ◽  
Ekaterina A. Troshina ◽  
Dmitry N. Ermakov ◽  
Elena A. Didenko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pension System ◽  
Population Aging ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Population Group ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Social Adaptation ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Elderly Age ◽  
State Institutions ◽  
The Government

The article raises the problem of the population aging and the expected significant increase in the proportion of the elderly population in Russian in the next 1015 years. Population aging will cause the need to attract additional financial resources for pensions to 1214% of GDP, which is approximately 1.5 1.6 times more than is provided for by the program of the Government of Russia aimed at improving the pension System in the period until 2025. The existing pension system and social security system only partially takes into account the aging process. Mechanisms for adapting the elderly to work have not yet been created, a well-thought-out state policy in this area has yet to be developed. In addition, the aging of the population leads to an increase in the older age groups of the risks of diseases with severe and catastrophic consequences, to prevent and reduce which is the number one task before the social policy of the state for this population group. The costs of medical care and care help are exorbitant in scope for the vast majority of retirees, so the elderly remain virtually defenseless against the risks of old age. It is emphasized that before medicine the task is not simply to increase life expectancy, but to prolong the labor activity of a citizen. The article suggests measures to improve the policy of interaction between state institutions and civil society in overcoming the negative consequences of aging and social adaptation of older persons.

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