SELF-PERCEPTION OF CHANGES IN LIFESTYLE AND WELLBEING ASSOCIATED WITH SOCIAL DISTANCING DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS (the study in Lviv, Ukraine)

Social distancing related to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic caused by SARS COV2 is an important precautionary measure, implemented by WHO approximately 1 year ago. At the same time, it is a large-scale stressor that has led to multiple changes in the lifestyle around the world. In this crisis, the well-being and health of medical students who belong to the individuals with a high risk of distress in the population are very important for society. The purpose of this research is to study the impact of COVID-19-related stay-at-home policy, social isolation, online academic learning, and working on the medical students' lifestyle and well-being focusing on their self-perception of telecommunication technologies, social media, as well as on the psychophysiological state, and eating behavior of medical students of Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University (LNMU). Methods. A prospective, cohort study was carried out on 273 medical students of the LNMU via an anonymous online survey using Google Forms. 273 people of different ethnicities answered the original questionnaire, which includes: 1) general questions (age, gender, ethnicity, family, education, work, and economic status); 2) issues related to the use of social media; 3) questions about the impact of social distancing on lifestyle; 4) the scale of stress perception. Results: The cohort for the study consisted of 166 women and 107 men in the following age groups: from 17 to 24 — 92 %, 25–31 — 4 %, 35–44 — 2 %, and over 45 years — 2 %. Ethnic groups included Asian — 47 %, Caucasian — 41 %, African — 7 %, Hispanic — 3 %, and multiracial people — 2 %. Social exclusion during COVID-19 was found to be caused by a change in the use of social media, more time spent on using them by all respondents. Among these, 88 % acknowledge that social media have a great impact and 71 % of responders learn basic information about the pandemic via social media. However, 52 % doubt the reliability of the information. The feeling of anxiety, panic, which characterized the perception of stress caused by information on social media, was reported by 56 % of respondents. Almost all respondents changed their lifestyle, which was characterized by physical inactivity and changed eating behavior. About 60 % of respondents reported overeating in the evening and at night (19:00 — 5:00) and almost half of all respondents reported weight gain in the last year. All respondents know about the benefits of physical activity to overcome signs of psycho-emotional stress, but only about 10 % of respondents exercise regularly. There were no differences in the responses from students belonging to the Caucasian group or other ethnicities. Conclusions. The lifestyle of student youth, their eating behavior, and psycho-emotional state are being modified during COVID-19. Social media is an important informative factor in the context of social exclusion and the fight against chronic stress

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The Impact of using social media in a sample of Iraqi medical students in 2019

Baghdad Medical Journal Of Students ◽

10.48046/bmjos.v1i1.16 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ali Almawashee ◽

Qaswer Yousif ◽

Karrar Ali Idan

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Medical Students ◽

Online Survey ◽

Educational Values ◽

Research Committee ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Mean ◽

Use Of Social Media ◽

The Impact ◽

The Relationship

Abstract Background: Social media are tools that supports electronic conversation. suggested , social media are “a group of internet-based applications that build on the ideological and technological foundations of Web 2.0, that allow the creation and exchange of User Generated Content. Aim of the study: Is to identify the pattern of usage of social media among a sample of Iraqi medical students including the devices used, the time consumed, and the purpose of usage. Materials &Methods: The study, which is a retrospective cross-sectional, was conducted among medical students at college of Medicine\Baghdad University at 2019 as an online survey for duration of 3 months Data was entered and analyzed using spss version 24.Informed consent was obtained from the participants and the study was approved by the research committee in the college. Results The mean age of the participants in this study was 20.8 with sd 1.78. Results had shown no significant association between the usefulness of social media for educational values and type of social media, device used, and the time spent on these media. Results had shown that those who use social media more frequently were not significantly worried about the potential of social media abuse. Conclusions A study exploring more objectively the relationship between students’ use of social media with their academic achievements and what sort of social media interventions associated with better learning are probably needed. Such knowledge may be useful to guide medical educators to better utilize social media in their instructional strategies.

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The impact of social media on young web users’ psychological well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic progression

Revista Amazonia Investiga ◽

10.34069/ai/2021.39.03.5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (39) ◽

pp. 50-61

Author(s):

Alisar Hudimova ◽

Ihor Popovych ◽

Vita Baidyk ◽

Olena Buriak ◽

Olha Kechyk

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Media Use ◽

Well Being ◽

Diagnostic Methods ◽

Psychological State ◽

Social Media Use ◽

Psychological Well Being ◽

Use Of Social Media ◽

Almost All ◽

The Impact

Aim. The present study empirically investigates and theoretically substantiates the results of the impact of social media on young web-users’ psychological well-being during the forced self-isolation caused by the progression of the COVID-19 pandemic (N = 254). Materials and methods. Standardized valid psycho-diagnostic methods, the author’s questionnaire (A. Hudimova, 2021), correlation and factor analyses were used to identify young web users’ patterns of social media involvement during the forced self-isolation. Results. The results show that during the global COVID-19 pandemic, young web users give preference for passive social media use rather than for communication. The obtained results showed an expansion in the time spent via social media by young web users. It was found that the progression of the COVID-19 pandemic is accompanied by the participants’ experience of negative emotions and fears of the unknown (r = .204; p <.01). It is substantiated that increasing immersion of young web users in social media is a kind of strategy to escape from bad thoughts (r = .271; p <.01). Significantly, it is stated that uncontrolled use of social media causes sleep disorders during isolation (r = .444; p <.01). Conclusions. The study proves that young people spend almost all day online due to the obsessive pattern of social media involvement and/or procrastination, which often provokes withdrawal syndrome upon the attempt to distract from them. The lack of controlled time spending on social media during self-isolation provokes an exacerbation of anxiety, apathy, depressed mood, and a sense of isolation from social reality. The obtained results provide evidence that the causal relations of passive social media use provoke an exacerbation of feelings of alienation, disrupt the healthy rhythm of sleep, and psychological state of young web-users during the progression of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Using social media in the wine business

International Journal of Wine Business Research ◽

10.1108/ijwbr-09-2013-0031 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 26 (2) ◽

pp. 80-96 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Gergely Szolnoki ◽

Dimitri Taits ◽

Moritz Nagel ◽

Alessio Fortunato

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Online Survey ◽

Wine Industry ◽

Communication Tool ◽

Vast Number ◽

Content Type ◽

Sales Channels ◽

Wine Sector ◽

Use Of Social Media ◽

The Impact

Purpose – This paper aims to conduct two studies to investigate the use of social media tools by wineries in Germany and assess the impact of Facebook membership on customers by comparing them with customers who were not members. Today, a vast number of books and studies are being published about social media in general, but less is known about their usage and effectiveness in the wine industry. Design/methodology/approach – The first study was conducted among 321 German wineries. It focused on the attitudes and preferences of the winemakers regarding social media, and it analysed the daily use of this new communication tool. The second study took place in August 2012, and it set out to define the value that accrued to a winery from having Facebook fans. This analysis was based on an online survey with customers of the winery as well as on a comparative analysis of the buying patterns of customers who were Facebook fans and those who were not. The analysis compared the turnover from the purchases of both groups over a period of three years. Findings – It was determined that 60 per cent of German wineries did communicate with their customers using social media. Facebook was the most important social media channel, followed by Twitter and YouTube. Of the winemakers interviewed, 40 per cent planned, in the near future, to implement additional activities involving social media. The consumer study proved that Facebook fans had a higher turnover compared to the non-Facebook fans of the winery studied. This finding emphasises the loyalty of Facebook fans. In addition, the study revealed that Facebook fans are open to receiving sales offers from the company which they support. Practical implications – Winery owners should be aware of the effectiveness of this modern communication tool. This is not only because Facebook fans generate a much higher turnover but also because of the possibility that they are interested in additional special offers on Facebook, which could mean an expansion of the available sales channels. Originality/value – To our knowledge, this kind of overview about the Germany wine sector as well as about the value of a Facebook-fan of a winery has not yet been undertaken.

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Well-Being and Loneliness in Swiss Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Social Relationships

The Gerontologist ◽

10.1093/geront/gnaa194 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Birthe Macdonald ◽

Gizem Hülür

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Adverse Effects ◽

Social Relationships ◽

Online Survey ◽

Well Being ◽

Stressful Event ◽

Functional Feature ◽

Social Distancing ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background and Objectives The current COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing measures are an extreme stressor that might result in negative emotional experiences and feelings of loneliness. However, it is possible that social relationships might have a protective effect. In the present study, we examine how the COVID-19 pandemic affected older adults’ well-being and loneliness, and the role of structural and functional characteristics of social relationships. Research Design and Methods We use data from 99 older adults in Switzerland who participated (a) in a three-week micro-longitudinal study on social relationships and well-being in 2019 and (b) in a weekly online survey during four weeks of the COVID-19 lockdown. Results Our findings show that the global pandemic had substantial adverse effects on older adults’ emotional well-being and loneliness. In addition, aspects of social relationships were related to loneliness both before and during the pandemic. Only one functional feature of social relationships (satisfaction with communication during the pandemic) buffered adverse effects of the major stressful event. Discussion and Implications Although the social distancing measures during COVID-19 presented a major stressor for older adults’ well-being and loneliness, being able to maintain social communication to a satisfactory level during that time reduced this effect. Therefore, enabling older adults to stay in touch with their social circle based on their personal preferences might reduce the impact that any future lockdown might have on their well-being.

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The impact of the COVID-19 "Infodemic" on Well-being: Social media practices during the pandemic - a cross-sectional study (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.27920 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Iffat Elbarazi ◽

Basema Saddik ◽

Michal Grivna ◽

Faisal Aziz ◽

Deena Al Souri ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

United Arab Emirates ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Online Survey ◽

Well Being ◽

World Health ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The World ◽

The Impact ◽

Media Practices

BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic created a crisis in the world of information and digital literacy. The amount of misinformation surrounding COVID-19 that has circulated through social media (SM) since January 2020 is notably significant and it has been linked to rising levels of anxiety and fear amongst SM users. The COVID-19 'infodemic' was singled out by the World Health Organization (WHO) and several newly published studies as one of the causes of anxiety, depression, and fear amongst the global population OBJECTIVE This study aimed to assess SM practices during COVID-19 and investigates their impact on well-being. METHODS An online infodemic cross-sectional survey was distributed via different SM platforms in the United Arab Emirates and other countries. Adults above 18 years of age were invited to complete an online survey that covered multiple domains, including the WHO-5 Well-being Index. RESULTS The study sheds light on the use of SM during the pandemic and its impact on well-being throughout the novel coronavirus pandemic. Out of 993 participants, 73% were females, 76% were non-Emirati, 91% university graduates, and 50% were employed in various occupations, of which 20% were health care professionals. Participants indicated that they acquired COVID-19 related information primarily from social media, of which WhatsApp was the most accessed. Most participants reported sharing the information after the verification. The mean well-being score was 12.6 ±5.6 with 49% of participants had poor well-being (WHO-5 score <12.5). The adjusted linear regression showed that Facebook usage was negatively associated with well-being score. Also, high time-usage was associated with poorer well-being. When adjusting for other factors, including low confidence in information around COVID-19 and poor knowledge overall, SM usage was significantly associated with poorer well-being CONCLUSIONS Social media practices during emergencies and disasters may impact public well-being. Authorities are advised to step in to minimize the spread of misinformation and more frequent use of social media, as it may influence well-being leading to increased levels of anxiety, stress, and depression. Public health specialists, information technology and communication experts should collaborate to limit the infodemic effect on communities.

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Facing Loneliness and Anxiety During the COVID-19 Isolation: The Role of Excessive Social Media Use in a Sample of Italian Adults

Frontiers in Psychiatry ◽

10.3389/fpsyt.2020.586222 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Author(s):

Valentina Boursier ◽

Francesca Gioia ◽

Alessandro Musetti ◽

Adriano Schimmenti

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Online Survey ◽

Virtual Communities ◽

Media Use ◽

Well Being ◽

Mediating Effect ◽

Self Report ◽

Social Media Use ◽

Core Elements ◽

Use Of Social Media

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) prompted people to face a distressing and unexpected situation. Uncertainty and social distancing changed people's behaviors, impacting on their feelings, daily habits, and social relationships, which are core elements in human well-being. In particular, restrictions due to the quarantine increased feelings of loneliness and anxiety. Within this context, the use of digital technologies has been recommended to relieve stress and anxiety and to decrease loneliness, even though the overall effects of social media consumption during pandemics still need to be carefully addressed. In this regard, social media use evidence risk and opportunities. In fact, according to a compensatory model of Internet-related activities, the online environment may be used to alleviate negative feelings caused by distressing life circumstances, despite potentially leading to negative outcomes. The present study examined whether individuals who were experiencing high levels of loneliness during the forced isolation for COVID-19 pandemic were more prone to feel anxious, and whether their sense of loneliness prompted excessive social media use. Moreover, the potentially mediating effect of excessive social media use in the relationship between perceived loneliness and anxiety was tested. A sample of 715 adults (71.5% women) aged between 18 and 72 years old took part in an online survey during the period of lockdown in Italy. The survey included self-report measures to assess perceived sense of loneliness, excessive use of social media, and anxiety. Participants reported that they spent more hours/day on social media during the pandemic than before the pandemic. We found evidence that perceived feelings of loneliness predicted both excessive social media use and anxiety, with excessive social media use also increasing anxiety levels. These findings suggest that isolation probably reinforced the individuals' sense of loneliness, strengthening the need to be part of virtual communities. However, the facilitated and prolonged access to social media during the COVID-19 pandemic risked to further increase anxiety, generating a vicious cycle that in some cases may require clinical attention.

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The Contribution of Social Media and Mobile Application to Individual Subjective Well-Being in Counseling Perspective

Journal of Counseling and Educational Technology ◽

10.32698/0571 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 33

Author(s):

Zadrian Ardi ◽

Indah Sukmawati

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Industrial Revolution ◽

Major Change ◽

Well Being ◽

Subjective Well Being ◽

Wireless Devices ◽

Mental Health Interventions ◽

Development Goals ◽

Use Of Social Media ◽

The Impact

Various researches in information technology, especially in the era of industrial revolution 4.0 have revealed that there has been a major change in the use of wireless devices in the past decade. The high internet usage is directly proportional to the use of social media which is increasing every year. Social media in principle provides various communities in accordance with the purpose and development goals of the platform. This of course will arouse the arena of new problems at the client's life level, thus becoming a challenge for counselors in the era of industrial revolution 4.0. Counselors in this era are required to have a deeper understanding of the root causes that might arise from the online world. Counselors are also required to have special skills in handling individual welfare conditions related to the impact of activities on social media. This study discusses the general impact of social media on individual subjective well-being conditions. This study involved 174 respondents spread throughout the territory of Indonesia by its demography. The results showed that respondents needed mental health interventions through online channels and not in the form of social media.

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Lateral Surveillance in Singapore

Surveillance & Society ◽

10.24908/ss.v13i3/4.5320 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 13 (3/4) ◽

pp. 327-337 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Hee Jhee Jiow ◽

Sofia Morales

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Daily Living ◽

Online Survey ◽

Daily Lives ◽

Technological Infrastructure ◽

News Websites ◽

Surveillance Society ◽

Use Of Social Media ◽

The Impact ◽

Social Behaviours

With the high Internet penetration rate, and the dense saturation of audio-visual-capturing mobile smartphones among its citizens, Singapore provides a ripe technological infrastructure for a surveillance society. Its citizens have been serendipitously capturing, on photo or video, socially undesirable and controversial incidents of daily living. Widespread adoption and use of social media have enhanced the viewership of these behaviours captured, and provided a platform for responses of criticisms.Panopticism, in the modern day context, is used as a metaphor to describe the effect of surveillance by authorities that shapes and manipulates social behaviour. Lateral surveillance is an opposite of panopticism, which portrays the impact of surveillance of the few, by the unseen many. This study explored the perception and impact of these activities on citizens’ social behaviours. Respondents were questioned on their awareness of surveillance in different milieu of their daily lives, such as commuting, driving, interactions in public spaces, and checking into, or uploading of photos onto social media, and its impacts on their social behaviours in those public spaces.This study recruited a sample of 223 university students, aged between 19 and 24 years, comprising of both genders, to undergo an online survey. These students were directed to an online survey, which did not capture identifiable information, by the authors who have access to the students at their university.Data collected provided descriptive statistics of the awareness and impact of panopticism, and lateral surveillance, by media-rich and media-savvy young citizens. Comparisons were made between panopticism versus lateral surveillance’s effect on social behavior. This study found that lateral surveillance had a more powerful effect on social behaviours, contributed significantly by the presence and usage of publicity channels such as FaceBook, and other local popular news websites.

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The Impact of Social Support on Students’ Behavior in the Context of Iraqi Medical Education

Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences ◽

10.3889/oamjms.2021.7688 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (E) ◽

pp. 1553-1559

Author(s):

I. D. Al-Hasani ◽

H. S. Salih ◽

A. T. Abdul Wahid ◽

Mohammed Jabarah

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Support ◽

Medical Students ◽

Social Life ◽

Online Survey ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Well Being ◽

Depression And Anxiety ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Impact

BACKGROUND: Mental health problems are reflected and linked to human behavior in many aspects. Medical students are susceptible to a wide variety of events that compromise their mental well-being, social life as well as their academic achievements. AIM: This study aimed to find the impact of social support on medical students’ behavior in Iraq via assessing their depression, anxiety, and stress status. METHODS: A cross-sectional online survey-based study targeted all medical students in Iraq. The employed questionnaires covered mental health status of participants by evaluating their perceptions of depression, anxiety, and stress using. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Analysis System. RESULTS: The study revealed a significant influence of social support on students’ perceptions of depression and anxiety, but not of their perception of stress. CONCLUSION: Lending social support to medical student is crucial to improve their depression and anxiety with all the positive results that the support brings to their behavior and social life. However, they need more than the social support to keep them safe from academic and daily life stressors.

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The impact of social media on the development of international relations in Western Balkan countries

Zbornik radova Pravnog fakulteta u Splitu ◽

10.31141/zrpfs.2018.55.130.931 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 55 (4) ◽

pp. 931-941

Author(s):

Selim Daku ◽

Abdulla Azizi

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

International Relations ◽

Online Survey ◽

International Policy ◽

Media Impact ◽

The Social ◽

Balkan Countries ◽

Research Goal ◽

Use Of Social Media ◽

The Impact

Nowadays, the use of social media has grown worldwide, and this has resulted in increased influence on international relations. Other researches show that this form of communication is increasing, so the research goal is to determine the extent of social media impact on the development of international relations in the Western Balkan Countries. To achieve the results, it was conducted an online survey with experts and representatives of institutions, and through the questionnaire was evaluated the use of social networks, the effects of use, transparency and reliability. The collected data were analyzed carefully, and came to the conclusion that; respondents highly assess the impact of social media on international relations development in Western Balkan countries. The social media have achieved higher effect, also without the influence of international policy leaders, in some areas such as transparency.

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