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Allen LP, Kelly C, Hatala AR. Answering tough questions: Why is qualitative research essential for public health? Aust N Z J Public Health 2024; 48:100157. [PMID: 38797134 DOI: 10.1016/j.anzjph.2024.100157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2023] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay P Allen
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Christine Kelly
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Andrew R Hatala
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
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Al-Shekaili M, Al-Huseini S, Al-Kalbani Y, Mirza H, Chan MF, Hassan W, Al-Sulimani F, Al-Ghafri GS, Al-Sumri HS, Amer AB, Ganesh A, Al-Saadoon M, Al-Adawi S. Factors associated with anxiety-related symptoms in children and adolescents during COVID-19 in Oman: a cross-sectional study. Sci Rep 2024; 14:9812. [PMID: 38684717 PMCID: PMC11058269 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-59769-y] [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: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Reports from different parts of the world suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant lockdown and social distancing measures have heralded unprecedented mental health challenges among children and adolescents. To date, there is a dearth of studies emerging from the Arabian Gulf, where the majority of its population are children and adolescents. The study aims to examine the prevalence of anxiety-related symptoms and their covariates among children and adolescents in an Arabian Gulf country, Oman. This is a cross-sectional analytic study carried out over two weeks (1st to 15th of August 2020) during the COVID-19 pandemic across Oman. Parents were asked to complete the online survey, which consisted of the parent version of the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) instrument and questions regarding basic socio-demographic information. Logistic regression was used to identify the contributing variables associated with anxiety-related symptoms. A total of 790 valid responses were received. Among the 790 children, 33.3% (n = 263) were diagnosed with anxiety-related symptoms by the SCARED instrument. Logistic regression analysis suggested that anxiety-related symptoms in children and adolescents were significantly associated with three demographic variables. The model shows that children with divorced or separated parents were 1.9 times more likely to have anxiety-related symptoms than children of married couples (OR = 1.93, p = 0.035). Children living in families with an income below USD 1000/month, were 1.8 times more likely to have anxiety-related symptoms than a family with an income of USD 4000/month (OR = 1.833, p = 0.018). Children in grades 3-6 were 1.8 times more likely to have anxiety-related symptoms than those in grades 1-2 (OR = 1.79, p = 0.024). Anxiety-related symptoms are common among Omani children and adolescents. They are more likely to be reported in middle scholastic grade levels and children from families with marital discord and low socioeconomic status. It is not clear whether the presently observed rates of anxiety exceed the prevalence that would have been observed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. More studies are therefore warranted using children and adolescents' self-reported scales.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Hassan Mirza
- Department of Behavioural Medicine, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat 123, Oman
| | - Moon Fai Chan
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat 123, Oman
| | - Walid Hassan
- Al Massarah Hospital, Ministry of Health, Muscat, Oman
- The Okasha Institute of Psychiatry, Ain Shams University, El-Demerdash, El Abbassia, Cairo, 11657, Egypt
| | | | - Ghaniya Saif Al-Ghafri
- Directorate General of Health Services, Al Dhahira Governorate, Ibri Regional Hospital, Ministry of Health, Ibri, Oman
| | | | - Ahmed Bait Amer
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat 123, Oman
| | - Aishwarya Ganesh
- Department of Behavioural Medicine, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat 123, Oman
| | - Muna Al-Saadoon
- Department of Child Health, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat 123, Oman
| | - Samir Al-Adawi
- Department of Behavioural Medicine, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat 123, Oman.
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Brown SL, Lin IF, Julian CA. Gray Divorce During the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2024; 79:gbad162. [PMID: 37880839 PMCID: PMC10809217 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbad162] [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: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Drawing on emerging evidence that the pandemic appears to have impeded both the divorce process and actual divorces, we examined whether the gray divorce rate (i.e., divorce among adults aged 50+) declined following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS Data from the 2019 and 2021 American Community Survey (ACS) were used to track changes in gray divorce. With the 2021 ACS, we estimated pandemic-era gray divorce rates across sociodemographic subgroups for middle-aged and older adults. We then pooled the 2019 (N = 892,700) and 2021 (N = 898,828) data to examine whether the risk of divorce changed with the onset of the pandemic net of sociodemographic characteristics, distinguishing trends for middle-aged versus older adults. RESULTS The gray divorce rate dropped following the onset of the pandemic. This drop was more pronounced among middle-aged than older adults. For older adults, the divorce rate essentially stalled. DISCUSSION The gray divorce rate now mirrors the overall trend of modest decline in U.S. divorce patterns. Whether the gray divorce rate continues to shrink as society transitions to a postpandemic environment awaits future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan L Brown
- Department of Sociology, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, USA
| | - I-Fen Lin
- Department of Sociology, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, USA
| | - Christopher A Julian
- Department of Sociology, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, USA
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Lebow JL. Another editor's farewell. FAMILY PROCESS 2023; 62:1273-1280. [PMID: 38055997 DOI: 10.1111/famp.12947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jay L Lebow
- Family Process and Family Institute at Northwestern, Evanston, Illinois, USA
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Sadeghzadeh Z, Ghodssi-Ghassemabad R, Hamdieh M, Shariatpanahi S, Babazadeh F, Abdoli M, Samadaee Gelehkolaee K. The assessment of the related factors of emotional divorce among Iranian people during the Covid-19 pandemic: a descriptive study. BMC Psychol 2023; 11:360. [PMID: 37891610 PMCID: PMC10612197 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-023-01395-w] [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: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND When a couple experiences emotional divorce, it can lead to boredom, a decrease in their connection, feelings of sadness and despair, and reduced reliance on one another. These consequences can have a lasting impact on the entire family. Therefore, the present study was designed to assess the affecting related factors of emotional divorce among Iranian people during the Covid19 pandemic. METHODS A descriptive-analytical study was performed on 900 men and women from 22 districts of Tehran who were selected by the available sampling methods from March to October 2021. Data collection tools are Guttmann demographic and Emotional Divorce Questionnaires. The Questionnaires were completed by the participants of the study. R 4.0.2 software was used to analyze the data, in addition, an independent t-test and chi-square were used to compare the subjects in terms of emotional divorce. Also, the multiple logistic regression method was used to determine the independent factors affecting emotional divorce. RESULTS The results showed that the related factors of emotional divorce include age, marriage rank, and duration of the marriage, choosing the spouse by parents, the education level of the couple, the job of the couple, infection of Covid19, and having disputes before Covid19 infection outbreak. CONCLUSION Emotional divorce is considered as a social harm which could be the prelude to legal divorce. Therefore, studying affecting factors in any society can pave the way for culture-based interventions to reduce such social harms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Sadeghzadeh
- Men's Health and Reproductive Health Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Robabeh Ghodssi-Ghassemabad
- Men's Health and Reproductive Health Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mostafa Hamdieh
- Psychosomatic department, Shahid Beheshti University of medical sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Samirasadat Shariatpanahi
- Men's Health and Reproductive Health Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Faeze Babazadeh
- Men's Health and Reproductive Health Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mitra Abdoli
- Men's Health and Reproductive Health Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Keshvar Samadaee Gelehkolaee
- Sexual and Reproductive Health Research Center, Department of Reproductive Health and Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
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Caycho-Rodríguez T, Rivera-Calcina R, Vilca LW, Carbajal-León C, Valencia PD, Yupanqui-Lorenzo DE, Arias Gallegos WL, Reyes-Bossio M, Oré-Kovacs N, Rojas-Jara C, Gallegos M, Polanco-Carrasco R, Cervigni M, Martino P, Lobos-Rivera ME, Moreta-Herrera R, Palacios Segura DA, Samaniego-Pinho A, Figares AB, Puerta-Cortés DX, Camargo A, Torales J, Monge Blanco JA, González P, Smith-Castro V, Petzold-Rodriguez O, Calderón R, Matute Rivera WY, Ferrufino-Borja D, Muñoz-Del-Carpio-Toia A, Palacios J, Burgos-Videla C, Eduviges Florez León AM, Vergara I, Vega D, Noe-Grijalva M, Shulmeyer MK, Urrutia Rios HT, Lira Lira AE, Lee SA. Assessment of Obsessive Thoughts About COVID-19 in 7 Latin American Countries: Structure and Measurement Invariance of the Obsession With COVID-19 Scale. OMEGA-JOURNAL OF DEATH AND DYING 2023:302228231210148. [PMID: 37883293 DOI: 10.1177/00302228231210148] [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: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
The present study aimed to evaluate the measurement invariance of the Obsession with COVID-19 Scale (OCS) among seven Latin American countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Although the OCS has been used in several countries and languages, there is a need for approaches that better integrate the cross-cultural equivalence of the scale. A total of 3185 people participated in the study. The results indicated the presence of a unidimensional structure and good reliability indices for the OCS in each country. The alignment method indicated that the OCS is an invariant measure of COVID-19 obsession among the populations of seven Latin American countries. The findings based on IRT analysis indicated that all OCS items had adequate discrimination and difficulty parameters. The findings contribute to the understanding of the internal structure of the scale in different countries at the same time, something that has been pending evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Lindsey W Vilca
- South American Center for Education and Research in Public Health, Universidad Norbert Wiener, Lima, Peru
| | | | - Pablo D Valencia
- Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Tlanepantla de Baz, State of Mexico, Mexico
| | | | | | - Mario Reyes-Bossio
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas, Lima, Peru
| | - Nicol Oré-Kovacs
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas, Lima, Peru
| | - Claudio Rojas-Jara
- Facultad de Ciencias de La Salud. Departamento de Psicología, Universidad Católica Del Maule, Talca, Chile
| | - Miguel Gallegos
- Facultad de Ciencias de La Salud. Departamento de Psicología, Universidad Católica Del Maule, Talca, Chile
- Programa de Pós-graduação Em Psicologia. Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brasil
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigaciones en Ciencias de La Salud y Del Comportamiento. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Entre Ríos, Argentina
| | | | - Mauricio Cervigni
- Centro de Investigación en Neurociencias de Rosario, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Argentina
| | - Pablo Martino
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones en Ciencias Del Comportamiento (LICIC), Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, Argentina
| | - Marlon Elías Lobos-Rivera
- Escuela de Psicología, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad Tecnológica de El Salvador, San Salvador, El Salvador
| | | | | | - Antonio Samaniego-Pinho
- Carrera de Psicología, Facultad de Filosofía, Universidad Nacional de Asunción, Asunción, Paraguay
| | | | | | - Andrés Camargo
- School of Health and Sport Sciences, Fundación Universitaria Del Área Andina, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Julio Torales
- Departamento de Psiquiatría, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Asunción, San Lorenzo, Paraguay
| | | | - Pedronel González
- Universidad Jesús de Nazareth, Honduras
- Asociación Hondueña de Intervención en Crisis y Salud Mental, Honduras
| | - Vanessa Smith-Castro
- Instituto de Investigaciones Psicológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Jose, Costa Rica
| | | | - Raymundo Calderón
- Colegio Estatal de Psicólogos en Intervención de Jalisco A.C. Guadalajara, Jalisco, México
| | | | - Daniela Ferrufino-Borja
- Centro de Investigación y Asesoramiento Psicológico, Facultad de Humanidades, Comunicación y Artes, Universidad Privada de Santa Cruz de La Sierra, Santa Cruz, Bolivia
| | - Agueda Muñoz-Del-Carpio-Toia
- Vicerrectorado de investigación, Escuela de Postgrado, Escuela de Medicina Humana, Universidad Católica de Santa María, Arequipa, Perú
| | - Jorge Palacios
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Del Valle de México, Querétaro, México
| | - Carmen Burgos-Videla
- Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Sociales y Educación, Universidad de Atacama, Copiapó, Chile
| | | | - Ibeth Vergara
- Asociación Panameña de Psicólogos, Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá
- Escuela de Psicología, Universidad Latina de Panamá, Panamá
| | - Diego Vega
- Escuela de Psicologia, Universidad Latina de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | | | - Marion K Shulmeyer
- Centro de Investigación y Asesoramiento Psicológico, Facultad de Humanidades, Comunicación y Artes, Universidad Privada de Santa Cruz de La Sierra, Santa Cruz, Bolivia
| | | | | | - Sherman A Lee
- Department of Psychology, Christopher Newport University, Newport News, VA, USA
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Barbuscia A, Pailhé A, Solaz A. Do Income and Employment Uncertainty Affect Couple Stability? Evidence for France During the COVID-19 Pandemic. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF POPULATION = REVUE EUROPEENNE DE DEMOGRAPHIE 2023; 39:19. [PMID: 37395827 PMCID: PMC10317946 DOI: 10.1007/s10680-023-09665-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Economic uncertainty and family dynamics are strictly connected. The increasing uncertainty generated by the Covid-19 pandemic is thus likely to affect couple relationships and stability, with potential opposite effects. Using data from the nationally representative EPICOV survey, that followed individuals throughout the first year of pandemic in France, we examined separation rates and how these were associated with different measures of employment and income uncertainty, including both pre-pandemic conditions and changes occurred during and after the first lockdown in Spring 2020 in France. Our results show increased rates of separation, especially among younger people, during the 6 months after the first lockdown, and a return to rates more similar to those observed in usual times, afterwards. Individuals who were unemployed and had lower income before the beginning of the pandemic were more likely to separate soon after the lockdown, while changes in employment conditions due to the lockdown were not linked with a higher separation risk. The job protection and the income compensation provided by the French state, as well a less stigmatising effect of unemployment occurred during the covid crisis, may explain the absence of effect. Self-declared deterioration in financial condition, especially when declared by men, was associated with higher separation risk for the whole year of observation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ariane Pailhé
- Institut national d'études démographiques (INED), Aubervilliers, France
| | - Anne Solaz
- Institut national d'études démographiques (INED), Aubervilliers, France
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Velásquez Restrepo LE, Basto Hernández GJ, Muñoz Astudillo MN. Socio-family Factors Predictive of Adaptative Coping Post COVID-19 Pandemic in Nursing Students from a Private University. INVESTIGACION Y EDUCACION EN ENFERMERIA 2023; 41:e05. [PMID: 38589323 PMCID: PMC10599705 DOI: 10.17533/udea.iee.v41n2e05] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Objective To identify socio-academic and family functionality factors - communication, cohesion, and flexibility - as predictive stimuli of adaptive coping of nursing university students in the post-COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A cross-sectional descriptive study with stratified random sampling, with participation by 416 Nursing students from a private university in Pereira (Colombia), who answered a self-completed sociodemographic characterization survey, the Olson et al., communication scale, FACES III scale to assess family cohesion and flexibility, and the Calixta Roy CAPS scale to assess coping and adaptation capacity. Binary logistic regression and Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit were performed to determine predictors of success, using SPSS v.26. Results The profiles of the participants showed a higher proportion of women (78.4%), ages between 21 and 30 years (57.5%), young people who study and work (60.1%), and those who have an academic session on Friday and Saturday (67.5%). Nursing students perceive that their families communicate efficiently and satisfactorily (85.8%), have strong cohesion with a tendency towards attachment (73.6%) and flexibility, show a tendency towards chaos (70.7%) and have adaptive coping (48.5%). The success predictors for adaptive coping were female sex (p=0.007), academic session Friday and Saturday (p=0.042), occupation, study, and work (p=0.026), socioeconomic strata 4.5 and 6 (p=0.041), good or very good communication (p=0.001), balanced family cohesion (p = 0.048), and balanced family flexibility (p=0.039). Conclusion This study found that good family functionality and having adequate socioeconomic conditions were predictors of higher coping and adaptation capacity during the COVID-19 pandemic in the nursing students who participated in the study.
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Niu H, Wang S, Tao Y, Tang Q, Zhang L, Liu X. The association between online learning, parents' marital status, and internet addiction among adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic period: A cross-lagged panel network approach. J Affect Disord 2023; 333:553-561. [PMID: 37127119 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.04.096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Previous research has identified the association between online learning and Internet addiction (IA) and the role of family factors in it. However, few studies have treated IA as a multidimensional mechanism and explored the underlying linkage of online learning, IA, and parental marital status with a cross-lagged network approach. The study aimed to examine the relationship between online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, Internet addiction (IA), and parental marital status among Chinese adolescents. METHODS The sample consisted of 2356 adolescents who completed the Internet Addiction Test twice over a four-month period. Four symptom networks and two cross-lagged panel networks were performed. RESULTS The results showed that adolescents from divorced families had a higher prevalence of IA (27 %) compared to those from non-divorced families (17 %). The strongest cross-lagged association was found between "spending more time online" and "preferring the excitement online". In the divorced group, "school grades suffering" had the highest influence, while in the non-divorced group, "anticipation" had the highest influence. CONCLUSION This study highlights the relationship between online learning, IA, and parental divorce and suggests that long-term online learning may contribute to IA, and parental divorce may exacerbate problematic Internet use and increase IA levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiqun Niu
- School of Psychology, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210024, China
| | - Shujian Wang
- Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology Education, Beijing 100875, China.
| | - Yanqiang Tao
- Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology Education, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Qihui Tang
- Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology Education, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Liang Zhang
- College Students' Mental Health Education Center, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China.
| | - Xiangping Liu
- Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology Education, Beijing 100875, China.
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Hoehn-Velasco L, Balmori de la Miyar JR, Silverio-Murillo A, Farin SM. Marriage and divorce during a pandemic: the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on marital formation and dissolution in Mexico. REVIEW OF ECONOMICS OF THE HOUSEHOLD 2023; 21:1-32. [PMID: 37361559 PMCID: PMC10088673 DOI: 10.1007/s11150-023-09652-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we consider the initial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on family formation and dissolution. We use national microdata covering all marriages and divorces in Mexico, an event-study design and a difference-in-difference specification. Our findings indicate that over March through December of 2020, marriage rates declined by 54% and divorce rates by 43%. By the end of 2020, divorce rates recover back to baseline levels, but marriage rates remain 30% below the 2017-2019 baseline level. Overall, our findings suggest that marital dissolutions quickly recovered (6 months into the pandemic), but at the end of 2020, family formation remained at persistently lower levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Hoehn-Velasco
- Department of Economics, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA USA
| | | | | | - Sherajum Monira Farin
- Department of Economics, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA USA
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Nahkur O, Kutsar D. The change in children's subjective relational social cohesion with family and friends during the COVID-19 pandemic: A multinational analysis. FRONTIERS IN SOCIOLOGY 2022; 7:974543. [PMID: 36530453 PMCID: PMC9755578 DOI: 10.3389/fsoc.2022.974543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
As a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, social-distancing measures have been implemented worldwide, including school closures. Previous studies indicated that children's relational social cohesion with family (RSC-Fa) and friends (RSC-Fr) may have decreased during the pandemic, but some children described that positive experiences were gained from the confinement measures of social distancing. Mostly, these studies are qualitative or capture a single country and have an exploratory character. Using data collected in 2021 of more than 20,000 children primarily aged 9-13 years as part of the International Children's Worlds COVID-19 Supplement Survey from 18 countries (Germany, Turkey, Bangladesh, Italy, Albania, Romania, Chile, Wales, Taiwan, Belgium, Algeria, Israel, Russia, South Korea, Indonesia, Estonia, Finland, and Spain), this study aimed to examine how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected children's RSC-Fa and RSC-Fr and explore the role of relational factors. RSC-Fa and RSC-Fr are measured through satisfaction in relationships with family members and friends before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, respectively. We employed descriptive statistics, cluster analysis, and multinomial logistic regression analysis. Our analyses confirmed the decrease in RSC-Fa and RSC-Fr, with a noticeably bigger decrease in RSC-Fr. Five profiles of change in RSC emerged: (1) gainers in both RSC; (2) gainers in RSC-Fa and decliners in RSC-Fr; (3) no change in either RSC; (4) decliners in RSC-Fa and gainers in RSC-Fr; and (5) decliners in both RSC. The quantity and quality of children's relationships differ by their profiles of change in RSC. For example, it was significantly more likely that "decliners in both RSC" had to be at home all day because of COVID-19 than "gainers in both RSC" or "no changers." Mainly, the quantity of relationship factors, and among different quality factors, only autonomy perceptions, help to explain the children belonging to the "gainers in both RSC" profile compared to the "no changers." Meanwhile, almost all the quantity and quality of relationships factors help to explain children's belonging to the "decliners in both RSC" profile compared to "no changers." In conclusion, our study confirmed the importance of keeping schools open to protect the RSC of children.
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Ray CD, Shebib SJ. Determinants of loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States: A one-year follow-up study. JOURNAL OF SOCIAL AND PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS 2022; 39:3579-3595. [PMID: 38603263 PMCID: PMC9127624 DOI: 10.1177/02654075221102632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
An initial study on loneliness during the first month of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States found that those who were living alone or who were single experienced greater loneliness than those who lived with others or were in a romantic relationship. This study presents follow-up analyses using data collected from the same sample (N = 428) at a total of five points in time throughout the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Unlike most studies using a longitudinal design to track loneliness throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the results of this study showed that loneliness scores generally decreased over this time period. However, additional analyses showed that when participants experienced a de-escalation in their romantic relationship status (e.g., transitioning from being in a dating relationship to being single or from being married to separated), loneliness scores increased. Because prior research shows a connection between living alone and loneliness, the researchers also tested whether decreases in the number of people one lives with predicted increases in loneliness. The data was inconsistent with this prediction. Overall, these findings join a minority of other longitudinal studies investigating loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic that found either a decrease or no change in loneliness, while also illustrating that increases in loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic occurred after people experienced a de-escalation in their romantic relationship status. These findings underscore the importance of life events during the COVID-19 pandemic that may increase loneliness-specifically transitioning out of romantic relationships. Thus, future research on predictors of loneliness should continue to use longitudinal designs to determine how changes in one's life predict changes in loneliness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colter D. Ray
- Department of Communication Studies, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Samantha J. Shebib
- Department of Communication Studies, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
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13
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Gayatri M, Puspitasari MD. The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Family Well-Being: A Literature Review. FAMILY JOURNAL (ALEXANDRIA, VA.) 2022:10664807221131006. [PMCID: PMC9535451 DOI: 10.1177/10664807221131006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Background: COVID-19 has changed family life, including employment status, financial security, the mental health of individual family members, children's education, family well-being, and family resilience. The aim of this study is to analyze the previous studies in relation to family well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A literature review was conducted on PubMed, Medline, Web of Science, and Scopus for studies using a cross-sectional or quasi-experimental design published from their inception to October 15, 2020, using the keywords “COVID-19,” “pandemic,” “coronavirus,” “family,” “welfare,” “well-being,” and “resilience.” A manual search on Google Scholar was used to find relevant articles based on the eligibility criteria in this study. The presented conceptual framework is based on the family stress model to link the inherent pandemic hardships and the family well-being. Results: The results show that family income loss/economic difficulties, job loss, worsening mental health, and illness were reported in some families during the COVID-19 pandemic. Family life has been influenced since the early stage of the pandemic by the implementation of physical distancing, quarantine, and staying at home to curb the spread of coronavirus. During the pandemic, it is important to maintain family well-being by staying connected with communication, managing conflict, and making quality time within family. Conclusion: The government should take action to mitigate the social, economic, and health impacts of the pandemic on families, especially those who are vulnerable to losing household income. Promoting family resilience through shared beliefs and close relationships within families is needed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Gayatri
- Directorate for Development of Service Quality of Family Planning, National Population and Family Planning Board (BKKBN), Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Mardiana Dwi Puspitasari
- Research Center for Population, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Jakarta, Indonesia
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14
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Allen KR, Goldberg AE. Apart, but still together: Separated parents living in limbo during COVID-19. JOURNAL OF MARITAL AND FAMILY THERAPY 2022; 48:845-860. [PMID: 34628664 PMCID: PMC8662165 DOI: 10.1111/jmft.12556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
During the COVID-19 pandemic, parents face unprecedented challenges linked to social isolation, uncertainty about the future, and financial, employment, and school-related stress. Individuals who planned to separate and divorce before the pandemic now find their lives on hold. In this exploratory study of 14 women who completed an online survey of open- and closed-ended questions regarding the divorce process and parenting challenges during COVID-19, we were guided by family stress and resilience theory and a directed qualitative content analysis approach to generate a collective story of their experiences, which included four themes: (a) pile-up of tensions, challenges, and stressors, (b) living in limbo during the pandemic, (c) finding creative strategies and solutions to navigating parenting and relational dissolution, while still living together, and (d) reaching the breaking point. We conclude with implications for professionals seeking to support individuals, couples, and families during a time of unprecedented transition and uncertainty.
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15
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Peixoto JMA, Gonçalves MAV, Gaspar MF, Matos MAV. Developing a Valid and Reliable Cross-cultural Measure of Coparenting Conflict between Divorced Parents: The Portuguese Version of the Acrimony Scale. JOURNAL OF CHILD AND FAMILY STUDIES 2022; 31:1664-1682. [PMID: 35572200 PMCID: PMC9090119 DOI: 10.1007/s10826-022-02233-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Coparenting conflict is predictive of parents' and children's adjustment to divorce. An accurate assessment of postdivorce acrimonious coparenting relationships is critical for research, clinical, forensic, and public policy purposes. The Acrimony Scale (AS) is a measure commonly used to assess coparenting conflict. We translated and cross-culturally adapted the AS to the Portuguese context, testing its reliability and validity. Using a web-based survey, data were collected from a community and convenience sample of 196 unrelated divorced parents, assessing sociodemographic characteristics, coparenting conflict, and divorce adjustment. The study consisted of two phases: (1) forward-backward translation and cultural adaptation and (2) psychometric properties analyses: construct and criterion-related validity and internal consistency reliability. The 25-item AS was successfully translated and cross-culturally adapted to the Portuguese language. Principal component analyses (PCA) suggested a three-factor structure solution of 22-items, explaining 57.5% of the variance. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) showed the goodness of fit of this tridimensional model. The results also demonstrated acceptable convergent and good discriminant validity and high internal reliability. Scores on the AS suggested good known-groups validity and high discriminative power with 86.7% classification accuracy. The area under the ROC curve was 0.91, establishing a very good predictive value of the scale. We suggest that the AS is a reliable multidimensional measure to assess coparenting conflict after divorce and may be useful, namely, in the psychological assessment of child custody and evaluation of the effectiveness of coparenting conflict-based interventions. We discussed future research and practical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judite M. A. Peixoto
- Judite Peixoto, School of Psychology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | | | - Maria Filomena Gaspar
- Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Coimbra, Rua do Colégio Novo, 3000-115 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Marlene A. V. Matos
- School of Psychology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
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16
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Heard G, Bickerdike A, Opoku S. Remote family dispute resolution services for COVID and post-COVID times: Client and practitioner perspectives. FAMILY COURT REVIEW 2022; 60:220-240. [PMID: 35601195 PMCID: PMC9111639 DOI: 10.1111/fcre.12639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
In 2020, residents in the state of Victoria, Australia endured months of government restrictions aimed at curbing multiple outbreaks of COVID-19. Family Dispute Resolution (FDR) services continued to assist separating couples to sort out their parenting and property matters, necessitating a rapid and wholesale shift to remote delivery via telephone and video conferencing. This paper reports on interviews during and subsequent to 'lockdown' with clients of FDR services offered by a large, community-sector provider. The data collected provide insights into the ways in which the pandemic affected the immediate needs and concerns of families as they navigated separation and shared parenting during the pandemic. Of importance to service development, the data include client responses to different methods of FDR service delivery and their reflections on how well these evolving methods were suited to their needs. Practitioner views were also sought on service delivery methods to provide a comprehensive picture of the advantages and challenges of remote delivery, and the ways in which it helped or hindered in catering to the needs of clients with safety concerns. Collectively the results of these analyses indicate that COVID has produced new risks and opportunities for the provision of FDR services, in both COVID and post-COVID worlds. The evolving FDR service model will likely continue to feature multiple delivery options, regardless of the trajectory of the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sandra Opoku
- Relationships Australia VictoriaCamberwellVictoriaAustralia
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17
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Hosseinzadeh P, Zareipour M, Baljani E, Moradali MR. Social Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic. A Systematic Review. INVESTIGACION Y EDUCACION EN ENFERMERIA 2022; 40:e10. [PMID: 35485623 PMCID: PMC9052715 DOI: 10.17533/udea.iee.v40n1e10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To provide a systematic review of the social consequences of COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS In the present study, articles indexed in Persian and Latin databases (Web Of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar and Magiran). 43 documents published in the last 3 years in Persian or English language were reviewed. The research steps were performed according to PRISMA writing standard and the quality assessment was done by two researchers independently with Newcastle Ottawa Scale tools for observational studies according to the inclusion criteria. RESULTS Measures to break the chain of virus transmission and to control the COVID-19 pandemic have caused major problems in the economic, social, political and psychological spheres and have affected billions of people worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic crisis has caused widespread unrest in society and unprecedented changes in lifestyle, work and social interactions, and increasing social distance has severely affected human relations. CONCLUSIONS The COVID-19 pandemic has social consequences in certain groups can exacerbate their unfavorable situation. Special groups in crisis situations should be given more attention, and clear and precise policies and programs should be developed to support them.
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18
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Galdiolo S, Géonet M, Gaugue J. How Do We Live Together During a Lockdown in Belgium? Study of Couple and Parental Satisfaction. TRENDS IN PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [PMCID: PMC8809231 DOI: 10.1007/s43076-022-00146-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
In March 2020, the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. To reduce the risk of infection, Belgian government ordered restrictive isolation measures. If lockdown and social isolation have proven to be quite effective in terms of physical health, little is known about the impact of the lockdown on couple and parental satisfaction. The current study concerned the first wave of a 5-wave longitudinal research programme relative to the trajectory of couple and parental satisfaction around the lockdown (N = 779 individuals) on 3 cohorts based on the government announcements (i.e. beginning of the lockdown and subsequent extended lockdowns). The objective was to compare the level of couple and parental satisfaction during the strict first lockdown in Belgium with normative values, considering any gender, parenting, and cohabitation differences. Participants were invited to complete four scales of the Marital Satisfaction Inventory Revised, i.e. Global Distress, Difficulties in Problem-solving Communication, Aggression, and Conflicts over Children Rearing. Two main findings emerged from the study. First, our results showed more couple satisfaction during the lockdown, in comparison to normative situations. During the lockdown, partners expressed more general couple satisfaction. They also felt more effective in resolving couple conflicts and in problem-solving communication and they experienced less couple physical and verbal aggression. Second, higher levels of conflicts over children rearing between partners during the lockdown were observed, in comparison to normative situations. However, major gender differences were observed: While mothers assessed more parental conflicts during the lockdown in comparison to normative situations, fathers reported less conflicts. Finally, our results showed gender differences in parental satisfaction between the three cohorts: Mothers expressed more parental conflicts over children rearing after the first extension of the lockdown in comparison to the beginning of the lockdown while no differences were observed in fathers. The discussion highlighted the positive aspects of lockdown for couples and the gender differences relative to the satisfaction over children rearing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Galdiolo
- Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Mons, 4, ruelle du Cerf Blanc, 7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Marie Géonet
- Institute of Research in Psychological Sciences, University of Louvain, 10, Place du Cardinal Mercier, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Justine Gaugue
- Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Mons, 4, ruelle du Cerf Blanc, 7000 Mons, Belgium
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19
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Cao H, Fine MA, Zhou N. The Divorce Process and Child Adaptation Trajectory Typology (DPCATT) Model: The Shaping Role of Predivorce and Postdivorce Interparental Conflict. Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev 2022; 25:500-528. [PMID: 35106699 PMCID: PMC8805665 DOI: 10.1007/s10567-022-00379-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Divorce has been conceptualized as a process. Research has extensively demonstrated that it is pre/postdivorce family environment factors that primarily account for the variability in children’s adaptation over parental divorce process rather than the legal divorce per se. Amongst various factors, interparental conflict has been consistently identified as a prominent one. Surprisingly, a single source is still lacking that comprehensively synthesizes the extant findings. This review fills this gap by integrating the numerous findings across studies into a more coherent Divorce Process and Child Adaptation Trajectory Typology (DPCATT) Model to illustrate that pre/postdivorce interparental conflict plays crucial roles in shaping child adaptation trajectories across parental divorce process. This review also summarizes the mechanisms (e.g., child cognitive and emotional processes, coparenting, parent–child relations) via which pre/postdivorce interparental conflict determines these trajectories and the factors (e.g., child gender and age, child coping, grandparental support) that interact with pre/postdivorce interparental conflict to further complicate these trajectories. In addition, echoing the call of moving beyond the monolithic conceptualization of pre/postdivorce interparental conflict, we also review studies on the differential implications of different aspects (e.g., frequency versus intensity) and types (e.g., overt versus covert) of interparental conflict for child adjustment. Last, limitations of prior studies and avenues for future research are discussed. The proposed framework may serve as a common knowledge base for researchers to compare/interpret results, detect cutting edges of the fields, and design new studies. The specificity, complexity, nuance, and diversity inherent within our proposed model await to be more fully revealed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongjian Cao
- Institute of Early Childhood Education, Faculty of Education, Beijing Normal University, 512 Ying Dong Building, No. 19 Xin Jie Kou Wai Street, Hai Dian District, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Mark A Fine
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 134 Stone Building, Greensboro, NC, 27402, USA
| | - Nan Zhou
- Department of Educational Psychology and School Counseling, Faculty of Education, Beijing Normal University, 528 Ying Dong Building, No. 19 Xin Jie Kou Wai Street, Hai Dian District, Beijing, 100875, China.
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20
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Akpan IJ, Aguolu OG, Kobara YM, Razavi R, Akpan AA, Shanker M. Association Between What People Learned About COVID-19 Using Web Searches and Their Behavior Toward Public Health Guidelines: Empirical Infodemiology Study. J Med Internet Res 2021; 23:e28975. [PMID: 34280117 PMCID: PMC8415385 DOI: 10.2196/28975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The use of the internet and web-based platforms to obtain public health information and manage health-related issues has become widespread in this digital age. The practice is so pervasive that the first reaction to obtaining health information is to “Google it.” As SARS-CoV-2 broke out in Wuhan, China, in December 2019 and quickly spread worldwide, people flocked to the internet to learn about the novel coronavirus and the disease, COVID-19. Lagging responses by governments and public health agencies to prioritize the dissemination of information about the coronavirus outbreak through the internet and the World Wide Web and to build trust gave room for others to quickly populate social media, online blogs, news outlets, and websites with misinformation and conspiracy theories about the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in people’s deviant behaviors toward public health safety measures. Objective The goals of this study were to determine what people learned about the COVID-19 pandemic through web searches, examine any association between what people learned about COVID-19 and behavior toward public health guidelines, and analyze the impact of misinformation and conspiracy theories about the COVID-19 pandemic on people’s behavior toward public health measures. Methods This infodemiology study used Google Trends’ worldwide search index, covering the first 6 months after the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak (January 1 to June 30, 2020) when the public scrambled for information about the pandemic. Data analysis employed statistical trends, correlation and regression, principal component analysis (PCA), and predictive models. Results The PCA identified two latent variables comprising past coronavirus epidemics (pastCoVepidemics: keywords that address previous epidemics) and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic (presCoVpandemic: keywords that explain the ongoing pandemic). Both principal components were used significantly to learn about SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 and explained 88.78% of the variability. Three principal components fuelled misinformation about COVID-19: misinformation (keywords “biological weapon,” “virus hoax,” “common cold,” “COVID-19 hoax,” and “China virus”), conspiracy theory 1 (ConspTheory1; keyword “5G” or “@5G”), and conspiracy theory 2 (ConspTheory2; keyword “ingest bleach”). These principal components explained 84.85% of the variability. The principal components represent two measurements of public health safety guidelines—public health measures 1 (PubHealthMes1; keywords “social distancing,” “wash hands,” “isolation,” and “quarantine”) and public health measures 2 (PubHealthMes2; keyword “wear mask”)—which explained 84.7% of the variability. Based on the PCA results and the log-linear and predictive models, ConspTheory1 (keyword “@5G”) was identified as a predictor of people’s behavior toward public health measures (PubHealthMes2). Although correlations of misinformation (keywords “COVID-19,” “hoax,” “virus hoax,” “common cold,” and more) and ConspTheory2 (keyword “ingest bleach”) with PubHealthMes1 (keywords “social distancing,” “hand wash,” “isolation,” and more) were r=0.83 and r=–0.11, respectively, neither was statistically significant (P=.27 and P=.13, respectively). Conclusions Several studies focused on the impacts of social media and related platforms on the spreading of misinformation and conspiracy theories. This study provides the first empirical evidence to the mainly anecdotal discourse on the use of web searches to learn about SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ikpe Justice Akpan
- Department of Management & Information Systems, Kent State University, New Philadelphia, OH, United States
| | - Obianuju Genevieve Aguolu
- Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Department, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Yawo Mamoua Kobara
- Statistical and Actuarial Sciences, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Rouzbeh Razavi
- Department of Management & Information Systems, Kent State University, Kent, OH, United States
| | - Asuama A Akpan
- Research and Development, Ibom International Center for Research and Scholarship, Windsor, ON, Canada
| | - Murali Shanker
- Department of Management & Information Systems, Kent State University, Kent, OH, United States
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21
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Goldberg AE, Allen KR, Smith JZ. Divorced and separated parents during the COVID-19 pandemic. FAMILY PROCESS 2021; 60:866-887. [PMID: 34227099 PMCID: PMC8444689 DOI: 10.1111/famp.12693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2021] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/15/2021] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant stress for individuals, couples, and families. Divorced and separated couples with children face unique stresses amid the pandemic. This mixed-methods study explored these challenges among 296 divorced and separated parents: namely 204 women formerly partnered with men, 34 men formerly partnered with women, and 58 women formerly partnered with women, who were surveyed during Summer/Fall of 2020. Participants described legal, financial, and coparenting challenges. Those who were not yet divorced described difficulties filing for or finalizing their divorce because of court closures and lack of responsiveness from legal professionals. Those who were already divorced also faced legal challenges, such as being unable to obtain a court date to modify custody arrangements. Financial challenges included renegotiating financial support obligations in the context of job loss. Salient coparenting conflicts, explored through closed- and open-ended questions, included communication issues, different views on virus risk mitigation behaviors, financial issues (especially for those not yet divorced), and transitioning between households and handling remote schooling (especially for those with shared physical custody). Participants elaborated on COVID-19-specific challenges, revealing that (a) lack of communication or agreement regarding shared strategies for risk mitigation reflected and exacerbated challenging dynamics between coparents, (b) remote schooling was often the site of disagreement when one parent felt that they were doing more than their fair share of coordination and oversight, and (c) different perspectives on science were expected to lead to future contention when making a joint decision about whether to vaccinate children. Findings have implications for family and legal professionals working with divorced, divorcing, and separated parents.
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22
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Brillon P, Philippe FL, Paradis A, Geoffroy MC, Orri M, Ouellet-Morin I. Psychological distress of mental health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: A comparison with the general population in high- and low-incidence regions. J Clin Psychol 2021; 78:602-621. [PMID: 34453328 PMCID: PMC8656408 DOI: 10.1002/jclp.23238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Objective Despite their essential role during this health crisis, little is known about the psychological distress of mental health workers (MHW). Method A total of 616 MHW and 658 workers from the general population (GP) completed an online survey including depressive, anxiety, irritability, loneliness, and resilience measures. Results Overall, MHW had fewer cases with above cut‐off clinically significant depression (19% MHW vs. 27%) or anxiety (16% MHW vs. 29%) than the GP. MHW in high‐incidence regions of COVID‐19 cases displayed the same levels of depressive and anxiety symptoms than the GP and higher levels compared to MHW from low‐incidence regions. MHW in high‐incidence regions presented higher levels of irritability and lower levels of resilience than the MHW in low‐incidence regions. Moreover, MHW in high‐incidence regions reported more feelings of loneliness than all other groups. Conclusion Implications for social and organizational preventive strategies to minimize the distress of MHW in times of crisis are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascale Brillon
- Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Frederick L Philippe
- Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Alison Paradis
- Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Marie-Claude Geoffroy
- Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Massimiliano Orri
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Isabelle Ouellet-Morin
- Department of Criminology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Research Center of the Montreal Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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23
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Abstract
To test and explore whether more positive coparenting will significantly predict lower COVID-19-related stress across family configurations and dynamics and across both higher- and lower-income mothers, we developed and circulated an online survey among mothers from the U.S. and Canada. Coparenting was measured using the Coparenting Across Family Structures (CoPAFS) short form (27 items) scale, comprised of factors representing five coparenting dimensions: communication, respect, trust, animosity, and valuing the other parent. Items specific to COVID-19 stressors assessed the types of stressors each parent faced. The sample consisted of 236 North American mothers, mostly white (n = 187, 79.2%) and aged 30–50 years. The surveyed mothers reported a consistent and significant relation between more positive coparenting and less COVID-19-related stressors whether parents were living together or not, married or divorced, and with a lower or higher income level, suggesting the importance and centrality of positive coparenting as a key factor for family well-being. Coparenting was especially predictive among mothers who were never married and those with lower incomes.
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24
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Noa C, Hanita K, Carmit K. "It is a matter of life or death": Spotlighting Children in the Context of HIPD as Perceived by Frontline Practitioners. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 4:307-324. [PMID: 34368625 PMCID: PMC8329903 DOI: 10.1007/s42448-021-00082-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
It is a wide consensus that high-intensity parental disputes (HIPD) might result in negative ramifications for children. The current study wishes to advance the knowledge regarding what children undergo during the acute time of the dispute, as portrayed by experienced frontline social workers mandated by the court to intervene with parents and their children in the context of HIPD. Ninety-four social workers participated in ten focus groups and five in-depth interviews. A thorough analysis of the narratives revealed three main themes. The first relates to their tremendous fear for the children's wellbeing, often displayed by the words "burn" and "death." The second theme addresses the practitioners' reflections with respect to the various experiences the children undergo during the acute time of HIPD and their risk assessments. The third theme addresses the practitioners' struggle in identifying how to protect the children during these times. The discussion spotlights the exposure of children to HIPD as a prolonged and chronic risk, with potentially adverse emotional and physical impacts. Key conclusions address the need to advance children's rights and the protection of children in the context of HIPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cohen Noa
- Bob Shapell School of Social Work, Tel Aviv University, 69978 Tel Aviv, Ramat Aviv Israel
| | - Kosher Hanita
- The Paul Baerwald School of Social Work and Social Welfare, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Katz Carmit
- Bob Shapell School of Social Work, Tel Aviv University, 69978 Tel Aviv, Ramat Aviv Israel
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25
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The Reshaping of Daily Time during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Lone Parent’s Work-Family Articulation in a Low-Intensity Lockdown. SOCIAL SCIENCES-BASEL 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/socsci10070239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions have triggered simultaneous changes across multiple life domains within a very short timeframe. This major shock has seriously challenged the ability of families to adapt to unanticipated changes over which they had little control. Switzerland instigated a low-intensity lockdown in response to COVID-19 in the spring of 2020. The resulting alterations to family life included changes to employment situations and working conditions (such as layoffs, temporary unemployment and home-based work) and the need to arrange home-schooling and childcare. This study examines how a sample of individuals with a trajectory of lone parenthood living in French-speaking Switzerland adapted their everyday lives to accommodate the shifting demands in the domains of employment and family responsibilities. Interviews were conducted between April and June 2020 for the longitudinal project “The multiple paths of lone parenthood”. Using this data, we analysed the COVID-related changes to work and family life, focusing on their time structuring. We found that parents who remained employed faced the greatest time pressures, although their experiences varied significantly depending on the adaptability of their work schedules, as well as the child(ren)’s age(s) and degree of autonomy. Home-based work and home-schooling resulted in more flexible schedules, although parents with the greatest work and family demands sought more time-structured organisation to facilitate their articulation. Social support was a crucial buffer for parents with conflicting demands across domains.
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26
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Custodial Single Fathers before and during the COVID-19 Crisis: Work, Care, and Well-Being. SOCIAL SCIENCES-BASEL 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/socsci10030094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
As both paid and unpaid work were disrupted during the COVID-19 crisis, the two roles that working custodial single fathers occupy—breadwinners and caregivers—have intensified significantly. Using two independent sets of interviews, this study examines how custodial single fathers navigated work and caregiving responsibilities prior to COVID-19 and compares them to the experiences of single fathers interviewed during the pandemic. The findings are organized into three key themes. First, men with white-collar jobs experienced less work-family conflict than men with blue-collar jobs. The COVID-19 crisis further widened this divide as lack of flexibility put men with blue-collar jobs in a precarious position in the labor market. Second, the way single fathers arranged childcare varied with the availability of extended family and the coparenting relationship with the child(ren)’s mother. The pandemic significantly complicated these arrangements by removing men’s access to extended family and intensifying already conflicted coparenting relationships. Finally, prior to the pandemic, many single fathers struggled with lack of leisure time and diminished social support networks that shrunk with their initial break from their child(ren)’s mother. The resulting feelings of fatigue and loneliness seeped into men’s psychological well-being. COVID-19 and related social distancing measures further exacerbated single fathers’ isolation.
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Singh R, Sim T. Families in the Time of the Pandemic: Breakdown or Breakthrough? THE AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF FAMILY THERAPY 2021; 42:84-97. [PMID: 34230764 PMCID: PMC8251058 DOI: 10.1002/anzf.1445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on all individuals and their families around the world. Some suffer more adversely than others depending on their unique developmental needs, resources, and resilience. However, instead of breaking down, many families and therapists have hunkered down to cope with this 'wicked' situation as it continues to evolve. This article examines the unique challenges and opportunities of COVID-19 for families at different life developmental stages, as well as the challenges and opportunities for systemic therapists as they venture into unfamiliar territory. Through a case example and by integrating recent literature related to this pandemic, we apply three key and interconnected systemic themes (unsafe uncertainty, family life cycle, and social diversity) to discuss the challenges and opportunities for families and therapists, respectively. We are optimistic that there are many possibilities as families and therapists draw on, and often reinvent, currently available resources to navigate their course in this pandemic. We also find that while the pandemic continues to present unsafe and uncertain situations, there are new ways of being and behaving, especially when families and professionals work together collaboratively. Despite formidable challenges, there are many opportunities, both within families and communities that cut through different social contexts related to family, culture, economics, and even politics. Families and therapists could endure better when they are more cognisant of how and what these contexts may impact and offer them.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Timothy Sim
- Singapore University of Social SciencesSingapore
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Walitt B, Bartrum E. A clinical primer for the expected and potential post-COVID-19 syndromes. Pain Rep 2021; 6:e887. [PMID: 33615088 PMCID: PMC7889402 DOI: 10.1097/pr9.0000000000000887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In late 2019, a novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) spread unchecked across the world's population. With tens of millions infected, the long-term consequences of COVID-19 infection will be a major health care focus for years after the contagion subsides. Most complications stem from direct viral invasion provoking an over-exuberant inflammatory response driven by innate immune cells and activation of the clotting cascade causing thrombosis. Injury to individual organs and their protective linings are frequent presentations in respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological systems. Reviewing the historical context of postviral fatiguing symptoms seems relevant to understanding reports of uneven recoveries and persistent symptoms that are emerging as "long-haul COVID-19." The pandemic is also an unprecedented sociocultural event, transforming how people consider their health, gather in groups, and navigate their daily lives. The unprecedented sociocultural stresses of the pandemic will have an invisible, ubiquitous, and predictable impact on neurologic, endocrine, and immune functioning, even in people untouched by the virus. COVID-19 may also have a surprise or two in store, with unique clinical presentations and novel mechanisms of injury which are yet to clearly emerge. Although challenging and unfortunate, these times also represent a unique opportunity to start to unravel the physiology that underlie how viruses may trigger cancers, neurological disease, and postviral fatiguing syndromes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Walitt
- Division of Intramural Research, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Elizabeth Bartrum
- Division of Intramural Research, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Lebow JL. COVID-19, Families, and Family Therapy: Shining Light into the Darkness. FAMILY PROCESS 2020; 59:825-831. [PMID: 32856753 PMCID: PMC7461170 DOI: 10.1111/famp.12590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jay L. Lebow
- Editor, Family Process, Family Institute at NorthwesternEvanstonIL
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