scholarly journals Assessment of Impact of Containment During the COVID-19 Epidemic and Coping Behaviours Using Newly Developed Assessment Tools

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Ping Wong ◽  
Haridah Alias ◽  
Mahmoud Danaee ◽  
Hai Yen Lee ◽  
Kit Mun Tan ◽  
...  

Background: The confinement measures during COVID-19 had a massive effect on physical and psychological health in public. This study assessed the impact of containment and coping behaviour among the Malaysia public during the COVID-19 pandemic. Questions assessing the impact of containment and coping behaviours were developed and psychometrically tested.Methods: Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted with the items using principal component analysis extraction and Varimax rotation. Partial least squares structural equation modelling was used to determine the relationship between coping and impact.Results: The 13-item of impact and 10-item coping instruments were developed with three dimensions identified through EFA. Both scales demonstrated excellent composite reliability and good convergent validity. The survey findings revealed that the impact on individual psychological aspects was prominent, followed by well-being and lifestyle. Mindfulness and physical coping strategies were most commonly reported. Coping through seeking help from health professionals and hotlines had a positive direct effect on well-being and lifestyle (b = 0.231, p < 0.001), psychological (B = 0.132, p < 0.001), and employment-related (0.194, p < 0.001) impacts. Coping through mindfulness practise had a negative effect on well-being and lifestyle-related impact (B = −0.180, p < 0.001) and employment-related impact (B = −0.096, p = 0.008).Conclusions: Despite some limitation, the scales for measuring impact and coping behaviours have the potential to be used as a measurement tool in future studies. Findings highlight the enormous impact of the pandemic on psychological well-being and lifestyles. Health authorities should support individual coping as it was found to be an important resilience-related factor to mitigate the impacts of containment during the pandemic.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allison R Heid ◽  
Francine Cartwright ◽  
Maureen Wilson-Genderson ◽  
Rachel Pruchno

Abstract Background and Objectives The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created unique stressors for older people to manage. Informed by the Stress Process Model and the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping, we examined the extent to which older people are adhering to physical distancing mandates and the pandemic-related experiences that older people find most challenging. Research Design and Methods From May 4 to May 17, 2020, a web-based questionnaire focused on the COVID-19 pandemic was completed by 1,272 people (aged 64 and older) who were part of an ongoing research panel in New Jersey recruited in 2006. Frequencies for endorsement of physical distancing behaviors were tabulated, and open-ended responses to the biggest challenge of the pandemic were systematically coded and classified using content analysis. Results More than 70% of participants reported adhering to physical distancing behaviors. Experiences appraised as most difficult by participants fell into 8 domains: Social Relationships, Activity Restrictions, Psychological, Health, Financial, Global Environment, Death, and Home Care. The most frequently appraised challenges were constraints on social interactions (42.4%) and restrictions on activity (30.9%). Discussion and Implications In the initial weeks of the pandemic, the majority of older adults reported adhering to COVID-19 physical distancing mandates and identified a range of challenging experiences. Results highlight the factors having the greatest impact on older adults, informing quantitative modeling for testing the impact of the pandemic on health and well-being outcomes, and identifying how intervention efforts may be targeted to maximize the quality of life of older adults.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva León-Zarceño ◽  
Antonio Moreno-Tenas ◽  
Salvador Boix Vilella ◽  
Alejo García-Naveira ◽  
Miguel Angel Serrano-Rosa

The confinement that COVID-19 has brought about has had a negative influence on people’s psychological health. However, this impact is not widespread throughout the population, and men and women may be affected differently and it is not known what protective factors may exist. In this sense, physical activity has classically been shown to be a habit associated with psychological health. The study aimed to analyze the impact of confinement on psychological health (psychological well-being, coping, emotions, and perception of daily difficulties), taking into account gender, and perceived changes in physical activity. After the project was approved by the University’s Ethics Commission, the participants, after signing the informed consent, completed the online questionnaires during the days from 6 to 20 April, the time when, in Spain, confinement was in place and the highest peak of deaths and infections from COVID-19 occurred. A total of 457 Spanish participants (247 men and 210 women) were evaluated in psychological well-being, in its adaptation to Spanish, in coping, with the Spanish adaptation of the COPE Inventory, in daily habits and difficulties (ad hoc questionnaire) and the level of physical activity they had (sedentary, active, and federated players) was recorded. Besides, the perceived change in physical activity due to confinement was recorded. The results showed that perceived emotions, difficulties for certain routines, psychological well-being, and coping differed according to sex. On the other hand, depending on the change in physical activity habits, it was observed that participants who increased their physical activity responded differently in the perception of emotions, and difficulties for routines and in psychological well-being. Finally, differences were also observed in most variables between sedentary, active, and federated participants. Results are discussed highlighting the importance of physical activity as a moderating factor of the impact of confinement.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 646-646
Author(s):  
Jerin Lee ◽  
Natalie Shook

Abstract The past two decades have been marked by a rapidly aging population in the U.S. (U.S. Census Bureau, 2018), making prejudicial attitudes toward older adults (i.e., ageism) and the impact of such attitudes more relevant. As such, ageism researchers have worked tirelessly to not only understand this normalized and insidious form of bias, but also develop efforts to combat it. This symposium will feature four ageism researchers who will showcase both the growing pains and novel contributions of ageism research, ranging from the impact of ageism on psychological health to ageism interventions to issues related to the measurement of ageism. Specifically, Dr. Ayalon will present findings regarding difficulties with the assessment of exposure to ageism and the consequences of ageism for psychological well-being. Dr. Horhota will share research demonstrating challenges associated with confronting ageism. Dr. Levy will present a model showcasing factors associated with the reduction of ageism. Ms. Lee will discuss research findings examining the construct validity of several ageism measures. These talks highlight theoretical and real-world implications associated with the complex nature of ageism, providing important directions for enriching ageism research going forward.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leodoro J. Labrague ◽  
Cherry Ann Ballad

AbstractBackgroundThe lockdown measures imposed by many countries since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic have been useful in slowing the transmission of the disease; however, there is growing concern regarding their adverse consequences on overall health and well-being, particularly among young people. To date, most studies have focused on the mental health consequences of the lockdown measures, while studies assessing how this disease control measure influences the occurrence of fatigue are largely absent.AimThe aims of this study are two-fold: (a) to examine the levels of lockdown fatigue, and (2) to determine the role of coping behaviours, personal resilience, psychological well-being and perceived health in fatigue associated to the lockdown measure.MethodsThis is an online cross-sectional study involving 243 college students in the Central Philippines during the sixth month of the lockdown measure implemented due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Five standardised scales were used to collect the data.ResultsOverall, college students reported moderate levels of lockdown fatigue, with a mean score of 31.54 (out of 50). Physical exhaustion or tiredness, headaches and body pain, decreased motivation and increased worry were the most pronounced manifestations of fatigue reported. Gender and college year were identified as important predictors of fatigue. Increased personal resilience and coping skills were associated with lower levels of lockdown fatigue.ConclusionCollege students experience moderate levels of fatigue during the mandatory lockdown or home confinement period. Resilient students and those who perceive higher social support experience lower levels of fatigue during the lockdown period compared to students with low resilience and social support. Lockdown fatigue may be addressed by formulating and implementing interventions to enhance personal resilience and social support among college students.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jörg Matthes ◽  
Kevin Koban ◽  
Ariadne Neureiter ◽  
Anja Stevic

BACKGROUND Given that governmental prevention measures restricted most face-to-face communications, online self-disclosure via smartphones emerged as an alternative coping strategy that aimed at reducing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on people’s psychological health. Prepandemic research demonstrated that online self-disclosure benefits people’s psychological health by establishing meaningful relationships, obtaining social support, and achieving self-acceptance, particularly in times of crisis. However, it is unclear whether these dynamics transition well to lockdown conditions where online self-disclosure must stand almost entirely on its own. Longitudinal investigations are needed to gain insights into the psychological functionalities of online self-disclosure during the COVID-19 pandemic. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to determine the temporal associations between smartphone online self-disclosure (as a communicative behavior) and critical indicators of psychological health (including psychopathological, as well as hedonic and eudaimonic states) during the first COVID-19 lockdown in Austria. METHODS We conducted a representative 2-wave panel survey between late March/April 2020 and May 2020. A total of 416 participants completed both waves (43.1% attrition rate, given n=731 participants who completed the first wave). A partially metric measurement invariant overtime structural equation model was used to determine the temporal associations among online self-disclosure, fear of COVID-19, happiness, and psychological well-being. RESULTS The analysis revealed that fear of COVID-19 significantly predicted online self-disclosure over time (<i>b</i>=0.24, <i>P</i>=.003) and happiness over time (<i>b</i>=−0.14, <i>P</i>=.04), but not psychological well-being (<i>b</i>=0.03, <i>P</i>=.48), that is, stronger COVID-19 fears at T1 prompted more online self-disclosure and less happiness at T2. Online self-disclosure, on the other hand, significantly predicted happiness (<i>b</i>=0.09, <i>P</i>=.02), but neither fear of COVID-19 (<i>b</i>=−0.01, <i>P</i>=.57) nor psychological well-being (<i>b</i>=−0.01, <i>P</i>=.57) over time. Participants who engaged more strongly in online self-disclosure at T1 felt happier at T2, but they did not differ from less-disclosing participants concerning COVID-19 fears and psychological well-being at T2. Importantly, happiness and psychological well-being were significantly related over time (happiness T1 → psychological well-being T2: <i>b</i>=0.11, <i>P</i>&lt;.001; psychological well-being T1 → happiness T2: <i>b</i>=0.42, <i>P</i>&lt;.001). CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that online self-disclosure might play a pivotal role in coping with pandemic stressors. With restrictions on their options, individuals increasingly turn to their smartphones and social media to disclose their feelings, problems, and concerns during lockdown. While online self-disclosure might not alleviate fears or improve psychological well-being, our results demonstrate that it made people experience more happiness during this crisis. This psychological resource may help them withstand the severe psychological consequences of the COVID-19 crisis over longer timeframes.


Beyond Coping ◽  
2002 ◽  
pp. 83-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald J. Burke

Chapter 5 discusses work stress and coping in organizations. It reviews the coping literature focusing on the workplace, presents a framework for the study of coping in organizations (including the organizational environment, cognitive appraisal, individual stress and coping behaviours). It discusses managerial health and well-being, the psychological effects of organizational change, and draws conclusions about coping with work stress.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (14) ◽  
pp. 5519
Author(s):  
José Aurelio Medina-Garrido ◽  
José María Biedma-Ferrer ◽  
Jaime Sánchez-Ortiz

Among the main causes of absenteeism are health problems, emotional problems, and inadequate work-family policies (WFP). This paper analyses the impact of the existence and accessibility of WFP on work absenteeism, by considering the mediating role of the well-being, which includes emotional as well as physical or health problems, that is generated by these policies. We differentiate between the existence of the WFP and its accessibility, as the mere existence of the WFP in an organisation is not enough. Additionally, workers must be able to access these policies easily and without retaliation of any kind. The model includes the hierarchy and the gender as moderating variables. To test the proposed hypotheses, a structural equation model based on the partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) approach is applied to a sample of employees in the service sector in Spain. On the one hand, the findings show that the existence of WFP has no direct effect on absenteeism; however, accessibility to these policies does have a direct effect on absenteeism. On the other hand, both the existence and accessibility of WFP have positive direct effects on emotional well-being. In addition, emotional well-being is positively related to physical well-being which, in turn, promotes a reduction in absenteeism. Finally, significant differences in the relationship between the existence of WFP and emotional well-being confirm the special difficulty of female managers in reconciling family life and work life.


2020 ◽  
pp. 003329412097816
Author(s):  
Nicole C. Ryerson

The globe is currently experiencing the immense and devastating impact of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the COVID-19 disease. College students are being uniquely impacted by the pandemic as well as the lockdown procedures that are in place. The current study utilized survey methods to investigate the impact of the pandemic on college students with a focus on changes in alcohol consumption and correlates of psychological health. Results found that participants reported a significant increase in alcohol consumption as a result of the pandemic. Furthermore, this increase in consumption related to a decline in psychological health. Exploratory analyses found that a decline in psychological health correlated with negative impacts in several life areas (financial, resource, social, and academic) and a decline in time management skills. However, spending time on leisure activities and spending time in-person with family and friends negatively correlated with psychological decline. Interestingly, news exposure to did not relate to psychological health.


2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (28) ◽  
pp. 7290-7295 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noreen Goldman ◽  
Dana A. Glei ◽  
Maxine Weinstein

Although there is little dispute about the impact of the US opioid epidemic on recent mortality, there is less consensus about whether trends reflect increasing despair among American adults. The issue is complicated by the absence of established scales or definitions of despair as well as a paucity of studies examining changes in psychological health, especially well-being, since the 1990s. We contribute evidence using two cross-sectional waves of the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study to assess changes in measures of psychological distress and well-being. These measures capture negative emotions such as sadness, hopelessness, and worthlessness, and positive emotions such as happiness, fulfillment, and life satisfaction. Most of the measures reveal increasing distress and decreasing well-being across the age span for those of low relative socioeconomic position, in contrast to little decline or modest improvement for persons of high relative position.


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