COVID-19, PHYSICAL DISTANCING IN THE WORKPLACE AND EMPLOYEES’ MENTAL HEALTH:
            IMPLICATIONS AND INSIGHTS FOR ORGANIZATIONAL INTERVENTIONS - NARRATIVE REVIEW

Physical distancing is one of the non-pharmaceutical measures adopted to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Although it appears to be effective in mitigating this spread, its implementation in workplaces may undermine employees’ mental health. In fact, torn between the fear of contagion and the need to maintain their jobs, employees must also comply with physical distancing measures in the workplace, which alter social interactions and set a predetermined frame and distance that guide employees’ behaviors within the organization while they need empathy. This situation might increase their level of stress. This paper is a narrative review that addresses the impact of physical distancing in the workplace on employees’ mental health. It presents the main factors that might moderate this impact and it recommends organizational interventions that can help to mitigate it. Physical distancing measures in workplaces are necessary and inevitable. Notwithstanding, they might undermine employees’ mental health, whence the importance to implement proper organizational actions to support employees and to facilitate their adaptation, in this unprecedented organizational change. This paper examines a relatively unexplored topic. It goes beyond examining social isolation to explore how setting a predetermined frame and distance can have an impact on employees’ mental health and recommends interventions that might help organizations to prevent mental health issues.

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Mental Health and Obesity: A Narrative Review

10.53350/pjmhs211551468 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 (5) ◽

pp. 1468-1473

Author(s):

M. M. Sopian ◽

S. Abbas ◽

S. H. Teoh ◽

E. Khan ◽

R. Hami ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Mental Health ◽

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Overweight And Obesity ◽

Narrative Review ◽

Health Issues ◽

Health Implications ◽

Mental Health Issues ◽

Potential Association ◽

Increased Risk

Both mental health issues and obesity are widespread problems with major public health implications. Because of their increasing prevalence and the fact that they carry an increased risk for cardiovascular disease, a potential association between depression, anxiety, and stress and obesity has been presumed and repeatedly examined. As various studies concerning overweight and obesity have been published, the objective of this review is to appraise critically the literatureto clarify the association between mental health andobesity.More extensive research in this field is needed to improve management and minimize the chance of potential complications. Keywords: mental health, depression, anxiety, stress, obesity

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