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Shen C, Song Z, He P, Liu L, Xiong Z. Online rumors during the COVID-19 pandemic: co-evolution of themes and emotions. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1375731. [PMID: 38919926 PMCID: PMC11196962 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1375731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction During public health emergencies, online rumors spread widely on social media, causing public information anxiety and emotional fluctuations. Analyzing the co-evolution patterns of online rumor themes and emotions is essential for implementing proactive and precise governance of online rumors during such events. Methods Rumor texts from mainstream fact-checking platforms during the COVID-19 pandemic were collected and analyzed in phases based on the crisis lifecycle theory. The LDA topic model was applied to analyze the distribution of rumor themes at different stages. The Baidu AI Sentiment Analysis API was used to study the emotional tendencies of rumors at different stages. Line graphs were utilized to analyze the co-evolution characteristics of rumor themes and emotions. Results During the COVID-19 pandemic, the themes of online rumors can be categorized into five types: epidemic prevention and control, panic-inducing, production and livelihood, virus dissemination, and social figures. These themes exhibited repetition and fluctuation at different stages of the pandemic. The emotions embedded in pandemic-related online rumors evolved with the progression of the pandemic. Panic-inducing rumors co-evolved with negative emotions, while epidemic prevention and control rumors co-evolved with positive emotions. Conclusion The study results help to understand the public's focus and emotional tendencies at different stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, thereby enabling targeted public opinion guidance and crisis management.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Pengyu He
- School of Management, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing, China
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2
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Beron JC, Solovey G, Ferrelli IA, Pedreira ME, Fernández RS. Large environmental changes reduce valence-dependent belief updating. Sci Rep 2024; 14:10429. [PMID: 38714776 PMCID: PMC11076288 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61207-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/10/2024] Open
Abstract
When updating beliefs, humans tend to integrate more desirable information than undesirable information. In stable environments (low uncertainty and high predictability), this asymmetry favors motivation towards action and perceived self-efficacy. However, in changing environments (high uncertainty and low predictability), this process can lead to risk underestimation and increase unwanted costs. Here, we examine how people (n = 388) integrate threatening information during an abrupt environmental change (mandatory quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic). Given that anxiety levels are associated with the magnitude of the updating belief asymmetry; we explore its relationship during this particular context. We report a significant reduction in asymmetrical belief updating during a large environmental change as individuals integrated desirable and undesirable information to the same extent. Moreover, this result was supported by computational modeling of the belief update task. However, we found that the reduction in asymmetrical belief updating was not homogeneous among people with different levels of Trait-anxiety. Individuals with higher levels of Trait-anxiety maintained a valence-dependent updating, as it occurs in stable environments. On the other hand, updating behavior was not associated with acute anxiety (State-Anxiety), health concerns (Health-Anxiety), or having positive expectations (Trait-Optimism). These results suggest that highly uncertain environments can generate adaptive changes in information integration. At the same time, it reveals the vulnerabilities of individuals with higher levels of anxiety to adapt the way they learn.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Cruz Beron
- Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIByNE)-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Guillermo Solovey
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Instituto de Cálculo, UBA-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ignacio A Ferrelli
- Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIByNE)-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María E Pedreira
- Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIByNE)-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Rodrigo S Fernández
- Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIByNE)-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- Laboratorio de Neurociencia de la Memoria, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires IFIByNE, CONICET, Ciudad Universitaria (C1428EHA), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Thompson RR, Jones NM, Garfin DR, Holman EA, Silver RC. Contrasting Objective and Perceived Risk: Predicting COVID-19 Health Behaviors in a Nationally Representative U.S. Sample. Ann Behav Med 2024; 58:242-252. [PMID: 38413045 DOI: 10.1093/abm/kaad055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Individuals confronting health threats may display an optimistic bias such that judgments of their risk for illness or death are unrealistically positive given their objective circumstances. PURPOSE We explored optimistic bias for health risks using k-means clustering in the context of COVID-19. We identified risk profiles using subjective and objective indicators of severity and susceptibility risk for COVID-19. METHODS Between 3/18/2020-4/18/2020, a national probability sample of 6,514 U.S. residents reported both their subjective risk perceptions (e.g., perceived likelihood of illness or death) and objective risk indices (e.g., age, weight, pre-existing conditions) of COVID-19-related susceptibility and severity, alongside other pandemic-related experiences. Six months later, a subsample (N = 5,661) completed a follow-up survey with questions about their frequency of engagement in recommended health protective behaviors (social distancing, mask wearing, risk behaviors, vaccination intentions). RESULTS The k-means clustering procedure identified five risk profiles in the Wave 1 sample; two of these demonstrated aspects of optimistic bias, representing almost 44% of the sample. In OLS regression models predicting health protective behavior adoption at Wave 2, clusters representing individuals with high perceived severity risk were most likely to report engagement in social distancing, but many individuals who were objectively at high risk for illness and death did not report engaging in self-protective behaviors. CONCLUSIONS Objective risk of disease severity only inconsistently predicted health protective behavior. Risk profiles may help identify groups that need more targeted interventions to increase their support for public health policy and health enhancing recommendations more broadly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca R Thompson
- Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine, USA
| | - Nickolas M Jones
- Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine, USA
| | - Dana Rose Garfin
- Community Health Sciences, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - E Alison Holman
- Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine, USA
- Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing, University of California, Irvine, USA
| | - Roxane Cohen Silver
- Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine, USA
- Program in Public Health and Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, USA
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Rodrigues J, Body K, Carel H. The pandemic body: the lived body during the COVID-19 pandemic. MEDICAL HUMANITIES 2023; 49:725-734. [PMID: 37620040 DOI: 10.1136/medhum-2022-012495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we conduct a detailed analysis of qualitative survey data focusing on adult populations in the UK, Japan and Mexico to address the following question: How has the COVID-19 pandemic changed people's lived experience of their bodies, other people's bodies and the world? We identify five themes: (i) fear and danger, (ii) bodily doubt and hypervigilance, (iii) risk and trust, (iv) adapting and enduring and (v) changes in perspective. We use two theoretical frameworks: first, Mary Douglas' anthropological work on purity, risk, danger and symbolism is applied to understand how social and cultural meanings attached to the body have changed during the pandemic. Second, we use the concept of bodily doubt developed by Havi Carel to interpret how people experience their bodies and other people's bodies differently during the pandemic. While we recognise the significant variation in people's embodied experience of the pandemic, our findings suggest there are commonalities that span different countries and cultures. Specifically, we look at responses to COVID-19 protective countermeasures such as national lockdowns and physical distancing which we suggest have reduced people's ability to put faith in their own bodies, trust other people and trust the political leadership. We conclude by proposing that the changes to our lived experience during the COVID-19 pandemic have prompted changes in perspective and a renewed focus on what people consider important in life from a social, moral, cultural and political point of view.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamila Rodrigues
- Marine Climate Change Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Japan
- Anthropology, International Research Center for Japanese Studies, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kathryn Body
- Department of Philosophy, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Havi Carel
- Department of Philosophy, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
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Danby A, Benson T, Garip G. 'Turbulence even in a bubble': a reflexive thematic analysis with family caregivers of people with dementia in the United Kingdom during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. Psychol Health 2023:1-26. [PMID: 38054849 DOI: 10.1080/08870446.2023.2289460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to understand how family caregivers of people with dementia managed changes caused by COVID-19 restrictions and how they adjusted to the lifting of restrictions. A particular focus of the study was on understanding the impact of social isolation, a reduction of social interactions, and reduced access to healthcare services. METHODS AND MEASURES Fourteen voluntary caregivers (nine women) were interviewed using a semi-structured interview schedule. RESULTS Five themes were identified based on reflexive thematic analysis: (i) Outlets to cope with lockdown; (ii) 'Not all doom and gloom': A silver lining amid COVID-19; (iii) Optimism helps provide resilience; (iv) The challenges and joys of reopening; and (v) Caregiving toward a new normality. CONCLUSION The research highlighted difficulties reported by family caregivers and people with dementia during COVID-19, while also showing how such carers coped. Interviews also identified ways that family caregivers often used optimism to help navigate through lockdown and to tackle the reopening stage. Family caregivers in this study reported coping well overall, but welcomed the lifting of restrictions.
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Weidlich S, Schneider J, Lee M, Mijočević H, Graf N, Protzer U, Spinner C, Noe S. Seroconversion rate of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies and dating behaviour in HIV-PrEP users in a German metropolis during the COVID-19 pandemic. Int J STD AIDS 2023; 34:956-961. [PMID: 37461288 PMCID: PMC10352700 DOI: 10.1177/09564624231190419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, when mortality was high, social distance was the only option to prevent transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and prohibit uncontrolled spreading. As the impact of social distancing on sexual behavior was unclear, we aimed to assess the influence of sexual risk behavior on SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion in HIV pre-exposition prophylaxis (PrEP) users after declaration of the pandemic. METHODS Prospective study on SARS-CoV-2 IgG-antibody seroconversion rate over time in men having sex with men (MSM) using PrEP at a single tertiary university hospital in Munich, Germany, during quarterly (Q) routine HIV-PrEP visits over 1 year per participant (May 2020 - September 2021). Seroconversion was defined as at least one positive anti-nucleocapsid (anti-N) SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody test as surrogate for past infection. In addition, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), personal estimated risk behavior and sexual contacts were assessed. RESULTS Seroconversion rate during the full observation period was 7.3% (9/124 subjects) by September 2021. Percentage of subjects with symptomatic STIs (T. pallidum, N. gonorrhoeae, C. trachomatis and M. genitalium) was 18.7% in Q3-20, 8.1% in Q4-20, 11.1% in Q1-21, 11.6% in Q2-21 and 9.5% in Q3-21. Perception of subjective threat of SARS-CoV-2 infection and adequacy of preventive measures decreased during the observation period. However, self-reported sex behavior remained stable during the observation period. CONCLUSIONS Our cohort showed low proportion of PrEP-users with anti-N IgG by September 2021, comparable to the local incidence. Sexual behavior in this cohort did not change, despite local recommendations for social distancing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Weidlich
- Department of Internal Medicine II, School of Medicine, University Hospital rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Jochen Schneider
- Department of Internal Medicine II, School of Medicine, University Hospital rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Marcel Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine II, School of Medicine, University Hospital rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Hrvoje Mijočević
- Institute of Virology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Natalia Graf
- Institute of Virology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Ulrike Protzer
- Institute of Virology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Christoph Spinner
- Department of Internal Medicine II, School of Medicine, University Hospital rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Sebastian Noe
- Department of Internal Medicine II, School of Medicine, University Hospital rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- MVZ München am Goetheplatz, Munich, Germany
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Sjåstad H, Van Bavel J. The Best-Case Heuristic: Relative Optimism in Relationships, Politics, and a Global Health Pandemic. PERSONALITY AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY BULLETIN 2023:1461672231191360. [PMID: 37698301 DOI: 10.1177/01461672231191360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
In four experiments covering three different life domains, participants made future predictions in what they considered the most realistic scenario, an optimistic best-case scenario, or a pessimistic worst-case scenario (N = 2,900 Americans). Consistent with a best-case heuristic, participants made "realistic" predictions that were much closer to their best-case scenario than to their worst-case scenario. We found the same best-case asymmetry in health-related predictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, for romantic relationships, and a future presidential election. In a fully between-subject design (Experiment 4), realistic and best-case predictions were practically identical, and they were naturally made faster than the worst-case predictions. At least in the current study domains, the findings suggest that people generate "realistic" predictions by leaning toward their best-case scenario and largely ignoring their worst-case scenario. Although political conservatism was correlated with lower covid-related risk perception and lower support of early public-health interventions, the best-case prediction heuristic was ideologically symmetric.
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Kube T. Factors influencing the update of beliefs regarding controversial political issues. THE JOURNAL OF SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 2023:1-23. [PMID: 37660358 DOI: 10.1080/00224545.2023.2253981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Selectively integrating new information contributes to belief polarization and compromises public discourse. To better understand factors that underlie biased belief updating, I conducted three pre-registered studies covering different controversial political issues. The main hypothesis was that cognitively devaluing new information hinders belief updating. Support for this hypothesis was found in only one of the three issues. The only factor that consistently influenced belief updating across issues was the discrepancy between prior beliefs and new information. These results suggest that usually people do use evidence to correct their beliefs, but may refuse to do so if doubts about its generalizability arise.
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Vig L, Ferentzi E, Köteles F. Self-reported interoception, worries and protective behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal study. PSICOLOGIA-REFLEXAO E CRITICA 2023; 36:23. [PMID: 37650979 PMCID: PMC10471539 DOI: 10.1186/s41155-023-00267-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Protective behaviors were essential for minimizing the spread of the virus during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. It is often assumed that awareness of bodily sensations (interoception) can improve decision-making and facilitate adaptive behavior. OBJECTIVE This paper investigates cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between different aspects of self-reported interoception, trait anxiety, COVID-related worry, and health protective behaviors. METHODS The study was conducted on a community sample of 265 adults. The two data collection phases took place online, before (baseline) and during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Hungary. RESULTS Contrary to our expectations, neither cross-sectional nor longitudinal associations were found between protective behaviors and indicators of self-reported interoception. However, worry at baseline predicted protective behaviors during the second wave, even after controlling for socio-economical characteristics and protective behaviors at baseline. CONCLUSION Our results highlight the adaptivity of health-related worry when behavioral steps to avoid threats are known and available. Also, higher level of perceived interoception did not appear to be health protective under these circumstances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Vig
- Doctoral School of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.
- Institute of Health Promotion and Sport Sciences, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Prielle Kornélia Utca 47-49, Budapest, 1117, Hungary.
- Ádám György Psychophysiology Research Group, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Eszter Ferentzi
- Institute of Health Promotion and Sport Sciences, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Prielle Kornélia Utca 47-49, Budapest, 1117, Hungary
- Ádám György Psychophysiology Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ferenc Köteles
- Ádám György Psychophysiology Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
- Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church in Hungary, Budapest, Hungary
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Izydorczak K, Dolinski D, Genschow O, Kulesza W, Muniak P, Casara BGS, Suitner C. Do unbiased people act more rationally?-The case of comparative realism and vaccine intention. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 10:220775. [PMID: 36756056 PMCID: PMC9890112 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.220775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Within different populations and at various stages of the pandemic, it has been demonstrated that individuals believe they are less likely to become infected than their average peer. This is known as comparative optimism and it has been one of the reproducible effects in social psychology. However, in previous and even the most recent studies, researchers often neglected to consider unbiased individuals and inspect the differences between biased and unbiased individuals. In a mini meta-analysis of six studies (Study 1), we discovered that unbiased individuals have lower vaccine intention than biased ones. In two pre-registered, follow-up studies, we aimed at testing the reproducibility of this phenomenon and its explanations. In Study 2 we replicated the main effect and found no evidence for differences in psychological control between biased and unbiased groups. In Study 3 we also replicated the effect and found that realists hold more centric views on the trade-offs between threats from getting vaccinated and getting ill. We discuss the interpretation and implication of our results in the context of the academic and lay-persons' views on rationality. We also put forward empirical and theoretical arguments for considering unbiased individuals as a separate phenomenon in the domain of self-others comparisons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamil Izydorczak
- Faculty of Psychology in Wroclaw, SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Ostrowskiego 30b, 53-238 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Dariusz Dolinski
- Faculty of Psychology in Wroclaw, SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Ostrowskiego 30b, 53-238 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Oliver Genschow
- Social Cognition Center Cologne, University of Cologne, Koln, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
| | - Wojciech Kulesza
- Warsaw Faculty, Centre for Research on Social Relations SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Pawel Muniak
- Warsaw Faculty, Centre for Research on Social Relations SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Wroclaw, Poland
| | | | - Caterina Suitner
- Department of Developmental and Socialization Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Veneto, Italy
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Maftei A, Petroi CE. "I'm luckier than everybody else!": Optimistic bias, COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs, vaccination status, and the link with the time spent online, anticipated regret, and the perceived threat. Front Public Health 2022; 10:1019298. [PMID: 36457316 PMCID: PMC9706105 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1019298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The catastrophic wave in the fall of 2021 drove Romania to the top of the list of dangerous COVID-19 infections, with the highest mortality rate in Europe. At the same time, Romania had one of the lowest vaccination rates. In this context, the present research aimed to explore the link between vaccination intention/status, optimistic bias, COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs, the time spent online, and vaccination (anticipated) regret. Our convenience sample was formed by 408 adults aged 18-63 years (M = 22.11, SD = 6.18, 69.9 % females), who were distributed into four groups: (1) non-vaccinated who definitely refused COVID-19 vaccination, (2) non-vaccinated who considered COVID-19 vaccination, (3) non-vaccinated who reported their absolute willingness to COVID-19 vaccination, and (4) people who were COVID-19 vaccinated. We conducted our analyses separately, depending on these groups (i.e., vaccination intentions/status). Data were collected using an online questionnaire between November 10, 2021, and January 03, 2022. In our cross-sectional approach, following correlation and ANOVA analyses, among the observed patterns were (1) the significant negative relation between optimism bias and the perceived COVID-19 threat; (2) the positive link between anticipated regret, post-vaccination regret, age, and conspiracy beliefs. We discuss our findings considering their contribution to health policies and practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Maftei
- Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Iaşi, Romania
| | - Cosmina Elena Petroi
- Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Iaşi, Romania
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12
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Sætrevik B, Bjørkheim SB. Motivational factors were more important than perceived risk or optimism for compliance to infection control measures in the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0274812. [PMID: 36149859 PMCID: PMC9506657 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0274812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Compliance to infection control measures may be influenced both by the fear of negative consequences of a pandemic, but also by the expectation to be able to handle the pandemic's challenges. We performed a survey on a representative sample for Norway (N = 4,083) in the first weeks of the COVID-19 lock-down in March 2020. We had preregistered hypotheses to test the effect of optimism and perceived risk on compliance. Perceived risk had small effects on increasing compliance and on leading to more careful information gathering. The expected negative association between optimism and compliance was not supported, and there was instead a small positive association. We found a small effect that optimism was associated with seeing less risk from the pandemic and with a larger optimistic bias. Finally, an exploratory analysis showed that seeing the infection control measures as being effective in protecting others explained a substantial proportion of the variation in compliance. The study indicates that how we think about pandemic risk has complex and non-intuitive relationships with compliance. Our beliefs and motivations toward infection control measures appears to be important for compliance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bjørn Sætrevik
- Operational Psychology Research Group, Department for Psychosocial Science, Faculty of Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Sebastian B. Bjørkheim
- Operational Psychology Research Group, Department for Psychosocial Science, Faculty of Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
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13
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Kellerman JK, Hamilton JL, Selby EA, Kleiman EM. The Mental Health Impact of Daily News Exposure During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Ecological Momentary Assessment Study. JMIR Ment Health 2022; 9:e36966. [PMID: 35377320 PMCID: PMC9135112 DOI: 10.2196/36966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Consumption of distressing news media, which substantially increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, has demonstrable negative effects on mental health. OBJECTIVE This study examines the proximal impact of daily exposure to news about COVID-19 on mental health in the first year of the pandemic. METHODS A sample of 546 college students completed daily ecological momentary assessments (EMAs) for 8 weeks, measuring exposure to news about COVID-19, worry and optimism specifically related to COVID-19, hopelessness, and general worry. RESULTS Participants completed >80,000 surveys. Multilevel mediation models indicated that greater daily exposure to news about COVID-19 is associated with higher same-day and next-day worry about the pandemic. Elevations in worry specifically about COVID-19 were in turn associated with greater next-day hopelessness and general worry. Optimism about COVID-19 mediated the relationship between daily exposure to COVID-19 news and next-day general worry but was not related to hopelessness. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates the mental health impact of daily exposure to COVID-19 news and highlights how worry about the pandemic contributes over time to hopelessness and general worry.
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Affiliation(s)
- John K Kellerman
- Department of Psychology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, United States
| | - Jessica L Hamilton
- Department of Psychology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, United States
| | - Edward A Selby
- Department of Psychology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, United States
| | - Evan M Kleiman
- Department of Psychology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, United States
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14
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Widmann T. Fear, Hope, and COVID-19: Emotional Elite Rhetoric and Its Impact on the Public During the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic. POLITICAL PSYCHOLOGY 2022; 43:POPS12831. [PMID: 35941918 PMCID: PMC9347885 DOI: 10.1111/pops.12831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Research shows that emotions matter in politics, and they matter during a public health crisis. Yet, a comprehensive analysis of emotional political rhetoric during the COVID-19 crisis is still missing. Based on parties' position in the political arena (government versus populist radical parties), I expect differences in how specific emotions are employed and in how these messages actually influence the public. To test my hypotheses, I use word embeddings and neural network classifiers to measure fear and hope appeals in social media messages of political parties in four European countries. Furthermore, I rely on more than 1,400,000 public tweets of random citizens to estimate the impact of party messages. To do so, I employ vector autoregression (VAR) analysis to compare retweet volumes of political messages to emotional expressions in public tweets. Results indicate two main findings, (1) populist radical parties communicate less about the pandemic and decrease fear and increase hope appeals while COVID case numbers are rising whereas government parties exhibit the opposite pattern; (2) increased diffusion of party tweets consistently precedes change in partisans' emotional expressions the following day. The findings can carry important implications for (affective) polarization and the level of protective behavior among the population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Widmann
- Department of Political ScienceAarhus UniversityAarhusDenmark
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15
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Smith HS, Blumenthal-Barby JS, Chatterjee R, Hindera O, Huang A, Kothari R, Vlaev I. A Review of the MINDSPACE Framework for Nudging Health Promotion During Early Stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Popul Health Manag 2022; 25:487-500. [PMID: 35353613 DOI: 10.1089/pop.2021.0269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has highlighted the link between individual behavior and public health, along with the importance of evidence-based efforts to promote prosocial individual behavior. Insights from behavioral science can inform the design of effective behavior change techniques, or nudges, to influence individual behavior. The MINDSPACE framework organizes 9 behavioral science principles that can be used to guide policy design: Messenger, Incentives, Norms, Defaults, Salience, Priming, Affect, Commitments, and Ego. Using MINDSPACE as an organizing framework, this article provides a review of the literature on nudges to influence prosocial behaviors relevant during a pandemic: handwashing, avoidance of social gatherings, self-isolation and social distancing, and sharing public health messages. Additionally, empirical evidence on the use of nudges during the first several months of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 is summarized. Recommendations regarding the use of nudges to achieve public health policy goals during pandemics are provided. Organizational leaders, policymakers, and practitioners can use nudges to promote public health when mandates are not politically feasible or enforceable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hadley Stevens Smith
- Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | | | - Ritodhi Chatterjee
- Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Olivia Hindera
- Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Angela Huang
- Internal Medicine Residency Program, University of Washington Boise, Boise, Idaho, USA
| | - Rishabh Kothari
- Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Ivo Vlaev
- Warwick Business School, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
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16
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Wandschneider L, Batram-Zantvoort S, Alaze A, Niehues V, Spallek J, Razum O, Miani C. Self-reported mental well-being of mothers with young children during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany: A mixed-methods study. WOMEN'S HEALTH (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2022; 18:17455057221114274. [PMID: 35997231 PMCID: PMC9424892 DOI: 10.1177/17455057221114274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Mothers of young children have been identified as a particularly vulnerable group during the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to explore how occupational, psychosocial and partnership-related factors were associated with their self-reported mental well-being during the first COVID-19 wave. METHODS Five hundred fifty participants of the BaBi cohort study (est. 2013, Bielefeld, North-Rhine Westphalia, Germany) were invited to complete an online survey and to take part in email interviews (April-May 2020). With survey data, we assessed self-reported mental well-being through validated instruments (eight-item Patient Health Questionnaire; short version of the Symptom Checklist) and ran linear regression models for occupational, psychosocial and partnership-related factors. We performed content analysis on the interviews' data to further understand the determinants of the women's mental well-being. RESULTS One hundred twenty-four women participated in the survey; of which 17 also participated in the interviews. A perceived lack of support in childcare was associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms, while having a higher internal locus of control was associated with lower levels. Psychological distress was higher in those reporting lack of emotional or childcare support. Interviews confirmed the interplay of potential stressors and highlighted the difficulties to reconcile different expectations of motherhood. DISCUSSION Occupational, psychosocial and partner-related factors can act (to varying degree) both as resources and stressors to the self-reported mental well-being of mothers of young children. These impacts took different forms and created opportunities or challenges, depending on specific life circumstances, such as work or family situations, relationships and own psychosocial resources. Although not representative, our study contributes to building the COVID-19 evidence base, delineating the mental health toll of the pandemic on mothers of young children and the factors that contribute to it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Wandschneider
- Department of Epidemiology and
International Public Health, School of Public Health, Bielefeld University,
Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Stephanie Batram-Zantvoort
- Department of Epidemiology and
International Public Health, School of Public Health, Bielefeld University,
Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Anita Alaze
- Department of Epidemiology and
International Public Health, School of Public Health, Bielefeld University,
Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Vera Niehues
- Department of Epidemiology and
International Public Health, School of Public Health, Bielefeld University,
Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Jacob Spallek
- Department of Public Health, Institute
for Health, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, Senftenberg,
Germany
| | - Oliver Razum
- Department of Epidemiology and
International Public Health, School of Public Health, Bielefeld University,
Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Céline Miani
- Department of Epidemiology and
International Public Health, School of Public Health, Bielefeld University,
Bielefeld, Germany
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17
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McColl K, Debin M, Souty C, Guerrisi C, Turbelin C, Falchi A, Bonmarin I, Paolotti D, Obi C, Duggan J, Moreno Y, Wisniak A, Flahault A, Blanchon T, Colizza V, Raude J. Are People Optimistically Biased about the Risk of COVID-19 Infection? Lessons from the First Wave of the Pandemic in Europe. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 19:436. [PMID: 35010707 PMCID: PMC8744599 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19010436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Unrealistic optimism, the underestimation of one's risk of experiencing harm, has been investigated extensively to understand better and predict behavioural responses to health threats. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, a relative dearth of research existed in this domain regarding epidemics, which is surprising considering that this optimistic bias has been associated with a lack of engagement in protective behaviours critical in fighting twenty-first-century, emergent, infectious diseases. The current study addresses this gap in the literature by investigating whether people demonstrated optimism bias during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe, how this changed over time, and whether unrealistic optimism was negatively associated with protective measures. Taking advantage of a pre-existing international participative influenza surveillance network (n = 12,378), absolute and comparative unrealistic optimism were measured at three epidemic stages (pre-, early, peak), and across four countries-France, Italy, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Despite differences in culture and health response, similar patterns were observed across all four countries. The prevalence of unrealistic optimism appears to be influenced by the particular epidemic context. Paradoxically, whereas absolute unrealistic optimism decreased over time, comparative unrealistic optimism increased, suggesting that whilst people became increasingly accurate in assessing their personal risk, they nonetheless overestimated that for others. Comparative unrealistic optimism was negatively associated with the adoption of protective behaviours, which is worrying, given that these preventive measures are critical in tackling the spread and health burden of COVID-19. It is hoped these findings will inspire further research into sociocognitive mechanisms involved in risk appraisal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen McColl
- Unite des Virus Emergents, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement 190, Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) 1207, Health, Aix-Marseille University, 13009 Marseille, France;
- École des Hautes Études en Santé Publique (EHESP) French School of Public Health, 35043 Rennes, France
| | - Marion Debin
- Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Institut Pierre Louis d’Épidémiologie et de Santé Publique (IPLESP), Sorbonne Université, F-75012 Paris, France; (M.D.); (C.S.); (C.G.); (C.T.); (T.B.); (V.C.)
| | - Cecile Souty
- Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Institut Pierre Louis d’Épidémiologie et de Santé Publique (IPLESP), Sorbonne Université, F-75012 Paris, France; (M.D.); (C.S.); (C.G.); (C.T.); (T.B.); (V.C.)
| | - Caroline Guerrisi
- Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Institut Pierre Louis d’Épidémiologie et de Santé Publique (IPLESP), Sorbonne Université, F-75012 Paris, France; (M.D.); (C.S.); (C.G.); (C.T.); (T.B.); (V.C.)
| | - Clement Turbelin
- Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Institut Pierre Louis d’Épidémiologie et de Santé Publique (IPLESP), Sorbonne Université, F-75012 Paris, France; (M.D.); (C.S.); (C.G.); (C.T.); (T.B.); (V.C.)
| | - Alessandra Falchi
- Laboratoire de Virologie, Unité de Recherche 7310, Université de Corse, 20250 Corte, France;
| | | | - Daniela Paolotti
- Istituto per l’Interscambio Scientifico, ISI Foundation, 10126 Turin, Italy;
| | | | - Jim Duggan
- School of Computer Science, National University of Ireland, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland;
| | - Yamir Moreno
- Institute for Biocomputation and Physics and Complex Systems, University of Zaragoza, 50001 Zaragoza, Spain;
| | - Ania Wisniak
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Global Health, University of Geneva, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland; (A.W.); (A.F.)
| | - Antoine Flahault
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Global Health, University of Geneva, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland; (A.W.); (A.F.)
| | - Thierry Blanchon
- Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Institut Pierre Louis d’Épidémiologie et de Santé Publique (IPLESP), Sorbonne Université, F-75012 Paris, France; (M.D.); (C.S.); (C.G.); (C.T.); (T.B.); (V.C.)
| | - Vittoria Colizza
- Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Institut Pierre Louis d’Épidémiologie et de Santé Publique (IPLESP), Sorbonne Université, F-75012 Paris, France; (M.D.); (C.S.); (C.G.); (C.T.); (T.B.); (V.C.)
| | - Jocelyn Raude
- Unite des Virus Emergents, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement 190, Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) 1207, Health, Aix-Marseille University, 13009 Marseille, France;
- École des Hautes Études en Santé Publique (EHESP) French School of Public Health, 35043 Rennes, France
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18
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De Lellis P, Ruiz Marín M, Porfiri M. Quantifying the role of the COVID-19 pandemic in the 2020 U.S. presidential elections. THE EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL. SPECIAL TOPICS 2021; 231:1635-1643. [PMID: 34725567 PMCID: PMC8552435 DOI: 10.1140/epjs/s11734-021-00299-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
In the media, a prevalent narrative is that the incumbent United States President Donald J. Trump lost the 2020 elections because of the way he handled the COVID-19 pandemic. Quantitative evidence to support this narrative is, however, limited. We put forward a spatial, information-theoretic approach to critically examine the link between voting behavior and COVID-19 incidence in the 2020 presidential elections. The approach overcomes classical limitations of traditional regression analysis, where it does not require an underlying mathematical model and it can capture nonlinear interactions. From the analysis of county-level data, we uncovered a robust association between voting behavior and prevalence of COVID-19 cases. Surprisingly, such an association points in the opposite direction from the accepted narrative: in counties that experienced less COVID-19 cases, the incumbent President lost more ground to his opponent, now President Joseph R. Biden Jr. A tenable explanation of this observation is the different attitude of liberal and conservative voters toward the pandemic, which led to more COVID-19 spreading in counties with a larger share of republican voters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pietro De Lellis
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, University of Naples Federico II, 80125 Naples, Italy
| | - Manuel Ruiz Marín
- Department of Quantitative Methods, Law and Modern Languages, Technical University of Cartagena, 30201 Cartagena, Murcia Spain
| | - Maurizio Porfiri
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center for Urban Science and Progress, New York University Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY 11201 USA
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