Meaning in life and impact of COVID-19 pandemic on African immigrants in the United States

A virtuous cycle between meaning in daily life and state mindfulness as well as the unique role of depression among young adults: A diary study

The positive association between meaning in life (MIL) and mindfulness has been supported; however, previous research has been limited to the trait level. To explore the dynamics of mindfulness and MIL in the state level, the present study used the experience sampling method (ESM) and conducted a dynamic structural equation model (DSEM). In addition, we examined the moderation of baseline depression in this dynamic relationship and the protective role of the dynamics on depression. We recruited 184 college students (Mage = 21.58, 33.15% male), who reported three times a day for 14 consecutive days, and analyzed the 7726 collected responses. Firstly, a virtuous cycle between mindfulness and MIL was proven. Besides, the baseline depressive symptoms moderated the predictive of mindfulness on MIL, suggesting state mindfulness gave people with more depressive symptoms more meaningful in daily life. Lastly, the result also demonstrated the positive prediction of mindfulness on MIL and alleviated the worsening of depressive symptoms within 2 weeks. The findings extended the relationship between MIL and mindfulness from trait level to state level, enriching the self-determination theory, and examined the unique effect of depressive symptoms in the dynamics.

Meaning in life during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil: Impact of quality of life and sociodemographic factors

Research on meaning in life typically emphasizes the psychological aspects of quality of life, neglecting broader dimensions. Additionally, its relevance to the COVID-19 context remains limited. This study investigated the relationship of meaning in life with quality of life and sociodemographic factors related to COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. A total of 4133 Brazilian adults completed Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ), WHOQOL-BREF, WHOQOL-SRPB BREF, and sociodemographic information. Our results indicated a positive correlation between the presence of meaning and quality of life dimensions, with psychological health exhibiting the strongest relationship. We found a lower presence of meaning among individuals experiencing heightened social isolation, while vaccinated individuals exhibited a greater presence of meaning. Additionally, non-working participants reported lower presence and higher search for meaning than employed individuals, with frontline workers showing the highest search for meaning. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.

Addressing COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Uptake Among African Immigrants: Lessons from a Community-Based Outreach Program

In 2021, the African Cultural Alliance of North America (ACANA) implemented a community-based vaccine education and outreach program to decrease hesitancy and increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake among African immigrants in Philadelphia. The program had three components: (1) tailored messaging on the benefits of vaccines by trusted community health navigators in familiar languages/dialects, (2) use of educational/tabling events, and (3) establishment of a vaccine clinic in community settings. Using secondary data analysis, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and a self-administered survey, we explored (i) the impact and effectiveness of the outreach program and extent of vaccine uptake, (ii) African immigrants' beliefs about the COVID-19 pandemic and the vaccine, and (iii) barriers and facilitators of vaccine knowledge, uptake, and hesitancy. Our analysis showed that ACANA's outreach program was effective in addressing several cultural, logistic, and systematic barriers to vaccine uptake. The program distributed 2000 educational/informational flyers, reached 3000 community members via social media campaigns, and an additional 2320 through other person-to-person outreach events. The program was effective and resulted in the vaccination of 1265 community members over the course of the outreach. The impact of this outreach underscores the critical role of community-based organizations in addressing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and increasing vaccine uptake in underserved and minority communities. The paper concludes with suggestions and recommendations for using community-based outreach programs to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake and decrease hesitancy.

A study on the impact of life meaning on occupational identity of nursing students in China:a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

With the alterations of the Chinese epidemic prevention policy, China experienced a nationwide wave of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic from December 2022 to January 2023.The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic extends beyond individual perceptions of the meaning of life and attitudes toward life and death; it also affects the professional identity of nursing students.This study explored nursing students' professional identity and life meaning of affected by the pandemic.

METHODS

An online survey was conducted using the Chinese version of the Nursing Student Career Identity Scale and the Chinese version of the Meaning in Life Questionnaire to assess the current status of nursing students' professional identity and sense of life meaning. Data were also collected on participant gender, education, clinical practice experience, and COVID-19 infection.

RESULTS

The scores for nursing students' sense of professional identity (61.58 ± 16.16) and sense of life meaning (45.29 ± 12.65) were both at an intermediate level. Compared to the scores before the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese nursing students' professional identity scores increased, while their sense of life meaning scores decreased. Moreover, we found a positive correlation between professional identity and sense of life meaning (p < 0.001); nursing students exhibited a stronger professional identity when they had a relatively higher sense of life meaning than those with a relatively lower sense of life meaning.

CONCLUSION

Enhancing nursing students' sense of meaning in life is crucial for maintaining their professional identity. Attention should be given to life education for nursing students and the development of relevant educational curricula.

A Health Profile of African Immigrant Men in the United States

African immigrants (AI) are the fastest growing group of immigrants to the U.S. however, their health and health practices remains poorly characterized. Thus, this study aimed to describe the health profile of this under-described U.S. population. In order to contextualize their health profiles, we compared AI (n=95) to other U.S. Black populations, namely African Americans (AA, n=271) and Caribbean American (CA, n=203) immigrants. We used cross-sectional survey data from a prostate cancer health study with 569 Black adult male participants, ages 21 years or older. Demographic characteristics were compared using Chi-square tests and prevalence ratios, and prevalence odds ratios (POR) were estimated for AIs compared to AA and CA immigrants using a log-binomial regression model. Results revealed that AI exhibited significantly lower prevalence of asthma and diabetes, when compared to AA and CA immigrants. Furthermore, AI reported lower consumption of alcohol than AA (POR, 0.43, 95%CI 0.24, 0.75) and lower smoking prevalence than AA (POR, 0.19, 95%CI 0.05, 0.70) and CA immigrants (POR, 0.21, 95%CI 0.05, 0.76). Additionally, AI reported significantly lower medical mistrust than CA (POR, 0.51, 95%CI 0.26, 0.95), significantly low financial strain than CAs immigrants (POR, 1.66, 95%CI 1.00, 2.75) and significantly higher levels of religious coping than both AA (POR, 2.43, 95%CI 1.43, 4.12) and CA immigrant men (POR, 1.78, 95%CI 1.03, 3.08). This study further supports emerging evidence that Blacks in the U.S. are not a monolithic group and that it is necessary to assess the Black subgroups separately. In addition, as one of the fastest growing immigrant populations, it is critical for future research to understand African immigrant's health needs and its correlates.

College Students' Reflections on Their Experience Facilitating a Photovoice Research Project with BIPOC Older Adults and Frontline Healthcare Workers

The photovoice literature has focused mainly on research collaborations between researchers in academia and community partners. There is limited evidence of undergraduate students facilitating photovoice research projects with underserved Black, Indigenous, and persons of color (BIPOC). Students' participation in photovoice research increases their understanding of local issues and can empower them to engage with local communities to create change. This qualitative study explored students' experiences facilitating photovoice research with BIPOC older adults and frontline healthcare workers. In this study, we trained college students in photovoice methodological skills by introducing photovoice as a participatory qualitative methodology, explained ethics issues and the informed consent process, and clarified the steps and requirements for the photovoice project. Students were paired with BIPOC older adults and frontline healthcare workers. They facilitated the photovoice research project in four stages. Throughout the study, students critically reflected and wrote about the various aspects of their experience facilitating the photovoice research activities based on weekly structured reflection questions. In their weekly journal, student facilitators commented on how both older and younger BIPOC participants were friendly and kind, flexible with the research activity scheduling, inspiring with their stories, and selfless. Students' reflections indicated that their participants experienced greater emotional and psychological burdens during the COVID-19 pandemic, exacerbated by the long-standing epidemic of systemic racism. Student facilitators overwhelmingly recognized participants' resilience and perseverance despite these life challenges. Our findings highlight the importance of photovoice in developing and strengthening college students' qualitative research skills and stimulating critical thinking and creativity, a sense of critical consciousness about social issues and society, and a sense of empowerment. Our results will be relevant to hospital/long-term care managers, policymakers, and researchers.

Transnational caring in times of COVID-19: The experiences of visible minority immigrant carer-employees

Globalization and immigration policies between Canada and immigrant-sending nations have heightened transnational caregiving. The research objective is to explore the experiences of visible minority immigrant transnational carer-employees (VMI TCEs) before and during the pandemic. In this study, participants reside in the mid-sized city of London, Ontario and engage in paid employment or volunteering while providing unpaid care to family members and/or friends abroad. Interviews and arts-based methodology were used to collect data from 29 VMI TCEs from 10 countries. Intersectionality theory informed thematic analysis and three themes emerged: (1) The nuances of providing transnational care, (2) The impact of geographic dislocation on care and wellbeing, and (3) Caregiving during COVID-19. Findings highlight the fluidity of transnational caregiving, in that participants both shape and are impacted by time-space dimensions. Study results may be used to inform culturally sensitive adaptions to the existing standard for organizations to be more inclusive of and accommodating to carer-employees. Findings can also inform the implementation or improvement of programs and services offered by the government, immigration resettlement agencies, employers and other stakeholders working with people who may share similar experiences to VMI TCEs. The creation of accessible and appropriate resources for this group of people will better support them in resettling outside of major urban cities in Ontario and other provinces across Canada.

Perspectives of Volunteer Firefighters during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Stumbling Blocks and Silver Linings

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected the lives of almost every individual in every nation, with numbers of infections continuing to grow. Across these nations, first responders are essential in their roles addressing emergencies, despite their risk of exposure to COVID-19 in the course of their work. We sought to understand the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the lives of volunteer firefighters in the United States, an understudied group of these first responders. Interviews were conducted with volunteer firefighters between September and November 2021. Interviews were analyzed using deductive dominant thematic analysis. Thirty-three firefighters were interviewed who had an average of 22 years of service and a mean age of 52 years. Interviewees described pandemic-related challenges including the fear of COVID exposure and frustrations with work and personal relationships. They also identified unexpected work-related benefits including a deepened commitment to serve and improvements to training and safety. Further, some volunteers noted personal benefits such as developing stronger connections with others, having a new outlook on life, and observing goodwill. Our findings provide insight into the multifaceted and complex impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volunteer firefighters.

The fear of COVID-19 and flourishing: the mediating role of search for meaning and presence of meaning

Past researches have found that sense of control and meaning in life can act as a protective factor against fear of COVID-19 pandemic. The current study examined whether the search for meaning and the presence of meaning could mediate the link between fear of COVID-19 and flourishing. A total of 312 Iranians who were identified by snowball sampling were recruited as the subjects of the cross-sectional study. The participants gave their consent to complete the Meaning in Life Scale, Flourishing Scale, and Fear of COVID-19 Scale. The findings demonstrated that fear of COVID-19 had a significant direct effect on flourishing. The presence meaning was positively and significantly connected with flourishing and the search for meaning. Both the search for - and the presence - of meaning were negatively and significantly linked with fear of COVID-19. Mediation analysis demonstrated that a presence of meaning is a protective factor for flourishing, but the search for meaning can be detrimental to flourishing. As a result, it may be worthwhile to conduct longitudinal research to track how the effects of the presence of meaning and the search for meaning vary over time. The study calls on mental health providers to take into account how the presence of meaning might lessen the negative impacts of fear in crisis situations and promote flourishing.

"Pandemic Fatigue! It's Been Going On since March 2020": A Photovoice Study of the Experiences of BIPOC Older Adults and Frontline Healthcare Workers during the Pandemic

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic intensified the stressful and already difficult circumstances of communities of color. Yet, there is no current photovoice research highlighting the lived experiences of these communities from two perspectives-the older adults (OAs) and the frontline healthcare workers (FLHWs). This qualitative study used photovoice to visually portray the struggles of Black, Indigenous, and persons of color (BIPOC) OAs (n = 7) and younger FLHWs (n = 5) who worked with older adults during the pandemic and how they coped and recovered from the challenges of the pandemic. The investigators conducted a three-day training of ten research assistants (RAs) who were paired with either an OA or an FLHW for the photovoice sessions conducted in four stages. Upon examination of the narratives, focus group transcriptions, and photo stories, it became clear that participants faced different challenges during the pandemic, such as the fear of COVID-19 exposure, struggles to adopt COVID-19 mitigation strategies, workplace challenges, and social isolation. Amid this crisis of suffering, isolation, and sadness, participants employed two major strategies to deal with the challenges of the pandemic: positive reappraisal and self-care practices. The findings have implications for clinical social workers, mental health counselors, faith communities, nurse managers and administrators, and policymakers.

Searching and Making Meaning of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Perspectives of African Immigrants in the United States

African immigrants continue to be disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is unclear how they are searching for and finding meaning in the face of this adversity. This study sought to understand how African immigrants in the United States are searching for and making meaning of the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted in-depth interviews remotely with 20 immigrants from West Africa (Nigeria and Ghana), East Africa (Somali and Rwanda), and Central Africa (Democratic Republic of Congo). The meaning-making model was used as a framework to understand the processes of coping during a significant, adverse life event. The study found that some participants attempted to reduce the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their global meaning by seeking answers as to why the pandemic occurred and creating positive illusions. Some redefined their priorities and reframed the pandemic in a positive light. Participants found meaning in the form of accepting the pandemic as a reality of life, appreciating events previously taken for granted, and making positive changes in their lives. This study’s findings can inform health care providers of the meaning-making processes of African immigrants and the need to assist them in their search for meaning.