Perceived Stress Levels and Associated Factors Among SARS-CoV-2-Affected Young Adults Under Home Isolation—A Cross-Sectional Study From Kerala, India

Introduction The impact of SARS-CoV-2 is not only on physical health but also on mental health. This pandemic raised concerns of fear, anxiety, and stress among patients affected with the disease. Quarantine and home isolation might have created psychological distress and helplessness in patients due to social and economic reasons. This study aimed in assessing the level of perceived stress and factors associated with it among SARS-CoV-2-affected young adults who were under home isolation. Methodology A cross-sectional study was conducted among 147 SARS-CoV-2-affected young adults who were under home isolation during June 2021 to August 2021. A semi-structured proforma was created using KoBo Toolbox for humanitarian response for data collection. Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) was used for measurement of stress among COVID-19 patients. The questionnaire was shared in online platform. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 23.0. Significance of association was tested using chi square test and independent sample t test. Logistic regression was done to predict the factors associated with perceived stress. Results Out of the 147 study participants, 56.5% were females and 43.5% were males. Symptoms were present in 94 (63.9%) of patients. The mean age of the study participants was 26 (10.5) years. The mean PSS score was 17.5 (6.4). Among the cases under home isolation, 24.5% had low stress levels, 68% had moderate stress levels, and 7.5% had severe stress levels. Feeling of loneliness during home isolation (odds ratio [OR]: 4.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.9-11.63], P = .008), presence of elderly or under-5 children in the same house (OR: 15.45, 95% CI [2.03-117.5], P = .001), and presence of cough ( P = .05) were found to be significantly associated with higher PSS scores. Age and sleep were negatively correlated with stress score. Conclusion One-third of the study participants had moderate to severe levels of perceived stress. Age, sleep hours, presence of cough, presence of under-5 children or elderly in the same house, and feeling of loneliness during home isolation were found to be significantly associated with high perceived stress level scores.

Experimental Study on Freeze-Thaw Effects on Creep Characteristics of Rubber Concrete

Crumb Rubber Concrete (CRC) can exhibit high freeze-thaw resistance, but its long-term creep behavior under various freeze-thaw conditions remains unclear, which is essential for the safety of pavement engineering in the severe cold zone. In this study, the freeze-thaw effects on the creep behavior of CRC under different stress levels were systematically analyzed by testing the compressive strength, the uniaxial creep under different stress levels, and the dynamic elastic modulus. To simulate real conditions of the road environment in the cold area, the lowest temperature of −20°C, six freeze-thaw cycles of 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 150, and seven different stress levels of 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, and 0.9 of the compressive strength were employed in this study. The test results showed that the mass loss rate was 6%–11.2% and the compressive strength decreased by 6.51%–47% after 30–150 freeze-thaw cycles. When the stress level reached its critical value, the relative dynamic elastic modulus decreased with the number of freeze-thaw cycles. After 150 freeze-thaw cycles, failure did not appear when the stress level was lower than 50%, above which the creep failure was determined by the stress level and the number of the freeze-thaw cycles. Meanwhile, it was found that the cracking and interfacial debonding between the matrix and the crumb rubber particle were the main reasons for the degradation of CRC creep performance. Finally, a Weibull distribution-based empirical creep damage model was established to predict the failure of CRC, which can enhance its application to related engineering.

The Psychological and Biological Impact of “In-Person” vs. “Virtual” Choir Singing in Children and Adolescents: A Pilot Study Before and After the Acute Phase of the COVID-19 Outbreak in Austria

Psychobiological responses to music have been examined previously in various naturalistic settings in adults. Choir singing seems to be associated with positive psychobiological outcomes in adults. However, evidence on the effectiveness of singing in children and adolescents is sparse. The COVID-19 outbreak is significantly affecting society now and in the future, including how individuals engage with music. The COVID-19 pandemic is occurring at a time when virtual participation in musical experiences such as singing in a virtual choir has become more prevalent. However, it remains unclear whether virtual singing leads to different responses in comparison with in-person singing. We evaluated the psychobiological effects of in-person choral singing (7 weeks, from January to March 2020, before the COVID-19 outbreak) in comparison with the effects of virtual choral singing (7 weeks, from May to July 2020, after schools partly re-opened in Austria) in a naturalistic pilot within-subject study. A group of children and young adolescents (N = 5, age range 10–13, female = 2) from a school in Salzburg, Austria were recruited to take part in the study. Subjective measures (momentary mood, stress) were taken pre- and post-singing sessions once a week. Additionally, salivary biomarkers (cortisol and alpha-amylase) and quantity of social contacts were assessed pre- and post-singing sessions every second week. Psychological stability, self-esteem, emotional competences, and chronic stress levels were measured at the beginning of in-person singing as well as at the beginning and the end of the virtual singing. We observed a positive impact on mood after both in-person and virtual singing. Over time, in-person singing showed a pre-post decrease in salivary cortisol, while virtual singing showed a moderate increase. Moreover, a greater reduction in stress, positive change in calmness, and higher values of social contacts could be observed for the in-person setting compared to the virtual one. In addition, we observed positive changes in psychological stability, maladaptive emotional competences, chronic stress levels, hair cortisol, self-contingency and quality of life. Our preliminary findings suggest that group singing may provide benefits for children and adolescents. In-person singing in particular seems to have a stronger psychobiological effect.

The Contribution of Neuroscience and Health Psychology to Macroergonomics

When a work system is considered we must focus on people that are part of the system as an active agent that can participate and interact all along the working process. In this process, stress contributes to increasing the probability of diseases and accidents. Therefore, one of the main objectives, from a preventive perspective, is to reduce stress levels. Related to this, the characteristics of healthy organizations will be described as a model to promote health. The objective of this chapter is to offer a broad and multidisciplinary perspective of prevention risk in the workplace centered in the worker, taking the view of neuroscience and health psychology. For that purpose, stress interventions in the organizations and in the individuals will be outlined. Finally, this chapter would finish proposing a preventive intervention to improve healthier work environments, taking into account neurosciences and health psychology. This proposal will be based on improving lifestyle, education for health, and self-respect.