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Bell BT, Norminton S, Dollimore K. ' I've learned a lot about myself this year': Young student women's perceptions of their cumulative use of digital fitness technologies across the Covid-19 pandemic. J Health Psychol 2024; 29:1046-1058. [PMID: 38279803 DOI: 10.1177/13591053231225598] [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: 01/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Many young women turned to digital fitness technologies (DFT) to support their health and wellbeing during the covid-19 pandemic. The present study explores young student women's retrospective perceptions of their cumulative engagement with DFT, across periods of restriction and easing (March 2020-2021). Seventeen UK-based women (Age M = 20.29, SD = 1.72); Ethnicity White = 94.12% participated in one-on-one interviews using an adapted scroll-back technique. Data was analysed using narrative-informed reflexive thematic analysis. Three themes were developed: My lockdown #fitnesstransformation: DFT as information and inspiration, My unrealistic expectations: DFT as a source of comparison and concern and My new body positive and resilient self: DFT as a catalyst to self-development. Themes highlight how perceptions of DFT changed over time as a consequence of repeat engagement, sociocultural context and psychological meaning-making. Crucially, findings underscore the importance of examining the collective and cumulative effects of DFT engagement on health and wellbeing, both positive and negative.
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Pryde S, Kemps E, Prichard I. "You started working out to get a flat stomach and a fat a$$": A content analysis of fitspiration videos on TikTok. Body Image 2024; 51:101769. [PMID: 39013285 DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2024.101769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/06/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024]
Abstract
Fitspiration presents idealised bodies to viewers, emphasising a fit ideal to women and a muscular ideal to men. Previous content analyses have focused on images from Instagram, with research yet to examine video content on TikTok or verify the accuracy of the diet and exercise information posted by fitness influencers. This content analysis examined 200 videos from popular TikTok fitspiration hashtags (fitness, fitspo, gymtok, fittok). Two independent coders used a standardised codebook containing definitions and examples for coding. Overall, 78 % of videos showed only women, and 10 % of videos showed only men. Videos of women included both fit and thin idealised bodies, whole body and specific body part objectification, harmful themes, and promoted appearance-related reasons for exercise more frequently than videos containing men. Videos of men included muscular idealised bodies and objectification through face obscurity (excluding the face from view) more frequently than videos of women. Most videos were posted by fitness influencers, and 60 % of videos presented incorrect or harmful information. Findings suggest that fitspiration TikTok content contains characteristics known to negatively impact body image and highlights gendered differences in content themes. Further investigation is required on the promotion of appearance reasons to exercise, and the credibility of information and content creators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Pryde
- Flinders University, Psychology, College of Education, Psychology & Social Work, Australia; Flinders University, Caring Futures Institute and SHAPE Research Centre, Australia.
| | - Eva Kemps
- Flinders University, Psychology, College of Education, Psychology & Social Work, Australia
| | - Ivanka Prichard
- Flinders University, Caring Futures Institute and SHAPE Research Centre, Australia
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Boekhout JM, Hut R, Lechner L, Peels DA. " I Don't Believe in Age; I Believe in Staying Enthusiastic": An Exploratory Qualitative Study into Recruitment Strategies Stimulating Middle-Aged and Older Adults to Join Physical Activity Interventions. Geriatrics (Basel) 2024; 9:80. [PMID: 38920436 PMCID: PMC11202473 DOI: 10.3390/geriatrics9030080] [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: 04/17/2024] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Many middle-aged and older adults (MAOAs) do not engage in sufficient physical activity (PA), despite its well-documented benefits for healthy aging. Existing PA interventions often fail to reach or engage the target population effectively. This study investigates MAOAs' preferences for recruitment strategies to optimize the reach and uptake of PA interventions, thereby enhancing their impact on healthy aging and public health. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 39 MAOA participants (69% female, mean age = 69.46, SD = 7.07), guided by McGuire's Theory on Persuasive Communication. Factors related to the source, message content, channel, receiver characteristics and target behavior of recruitment strategies were analyzed. Our findings suggest a preference for trustworthy sources (e.g., healthcare professionals over commercial entities) and positive, non-ageist messaging. MAOAs vary in their channel preferences but emphasize the importance of personalization. Despite heterogeneity, MAOAs commonly perceive themselves as sufficiently active, indicating a need for improved knowledge on what constitutes sufficient PA, as well as easy enrollment or trying out interventions. Tailoring recruitment strategies to diverse MAOA segments based on age seems crucial for effective engagement. Future research could explore quantitative research into how communication factors relate to various target population characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janet M. Boekhout
- Department of Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Open University of The Netherlands, 6401 DL Heerlen, The Netherlands; (R.H.); (L.L.); (D.A.P.)
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Ahmed W, Aiyenitaju O, Chadwick S, Hardey M, Fenton A. The Influence of Joe Wicks on Physical Activity During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Thematic, Location, and Social Network Analysis of X Data. J Med Internet Res 2024; 26:e49921. [PMID: 38551627 PMCID: PMC10984344 DOI: 10.2196/49921] [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: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Social media (SM) was essential in promoting physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially among people confined to their homes. Joe Wicks, a fitness coach, became particularly popular on SM during this time, posting daily workouts that millions of people worldwide followed. OBJECTIVE This study aims to investigate the influence of Joe Wicks on SM and the impact of his content on physical activity levels among the public. METHODS We used NodeXL Pro (Social Media Research Foundation) to collect data from X (formerly Twitter) over 54 days (March 23, 2020, to May 15, 2020), corresponding to the strictest lockdowns in the United Kingdom. We collected 290,649 posts, which we analyzed using social network analysis, thematic analysis, time-series analysis, and location analysis. RESULTS We found that there was significant engagement with content generated by Wicks, including reposts, likes, and comments. The most common types of posts were those that contained images, videos, and text of young people (school-aged children) undertaking physical activity by watching content created by Joe Wicks and posts from schools encouraging pupils to engage with the content. Other shared posts included those that encouraged others to join the fitness classes run by Wicks and those that contained general commentary. We also found that Wicks' network of influence was extensive and complex. It contained numerous subcommunities and resembled a broadcast network shape. Other influencers added to engagement with Wicks via their networks. Our results show that influencers can create networks of influence that are exhibited in distinctive ways. CONCLUSIONS Our study found that Joe Wicks was a highly influential figure on SM during the COVID-19 pandemic and that his content positively impacted physical activity levels among the public. Our findings suggest that influencers can play an important role in promoting public health and that government officials should consider working with influencers to communicate health messages and promote healthy behaviors. Our study has broader implications beyond the status of fitness influencers. Recognizing the critical role of individuals such as Joe Wicks in terms of health capital should be a critical area of inquiry for governments, public health authorities, and policy makers and mirrors the growing interest in health capital as part of embodied and digital experiences in everyday life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wasim Ahmed
- Management School, University of Stirling, Stirling, United Kingdom
| | - Opeoluwa Aiyenitaju
- Business School, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Simon Chadwick
- School of Knowledge Economy and Management, Paris, France
| | - Mariann Hardey
- Business School, University of Durham, Durham, United Kingdom
| | - Alex Fenton
- Business School, University of Chester, Chester, United Kingdom
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Sharma T, Farea A, Perera N, Emmert-Streib F. Exploring COVID-related relationship extraction: Contrasting data sources and analyzing misinformation. Heliyon 2024; 10:e26973. [PMID: 38455555 PMCID: PMC10918203 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e26973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic presented an unparalleled challenge to global healthcare systems. A central issue revolves around the urgent need to swiftly amass critical biological and medical knowledge concerning the disease, its treatment, and containment. Remarkably, text data remains an underutilized resource in this context. In this paper, we delve into the extraction of COVID-related relations using transformer-based language models, including Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT) and DistilBERT. Our analysis scrutinizes the performance of five language models, comparing information from both PubMed and Reddit, and assessing their ability to make novel predictions, including the detection of "misinformation." Key findings reveal that, despite inherent differences, both PubMed and Reddit data contain remarkably similar information, suggesting that Reddit can serve as a valuable resource for rapidly acquiring information during times of crisis. Furthermore, our results demonstrate that language models can unveil previously unseen entities and relations, a crucial aspect in identifying instances of misinformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanvi Sharma
- Predictive Society and Data Analytics Lab, Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Amer Farea
- Predictive Society and Data Analytics Lab, Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Nadeesha Perera
- Predictive Society and Data Analytics Lab, Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Frank Emmert-Streib
- Predictive Society and Data Analytics Lab, Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
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Yilmaz Gokmen G, Kecelioglu S. Has COVID-19 really affected the physical and mental health of university students? One-year follow-up results after the pandemic declaration. Work 2024; 78:257-266. [PMID: 38189720 DOI: 10.3233/wor-230154] [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: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic affected the whole world and various isolation measures were applied during this period. One of the groups that were physically and mentally affected by this period was students. OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the physical activity (PA) level, attitudes and behaviors related to PA, smoking, perceived stress, and fatigue of university students one-year after the declaration of the pandemic. METHODS A total of 102 students (79F/23M, 20.68±1.81 years) who were evaluated face to face with International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), Cognitive Behavioral Physical Activity Questionnaire (CBPAQ), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and Turkish Checklist Individual Strength (CIS-T) Questionnaire before the declaration of the pandemic, were evaluated online with the same questionnaires one-year after the declaration of the pandemic. RESULTS Although there was no difference in terms of other variables, there was a statistically significant difference in the CBPAQ outcome expectation subscale (p = 0.04). The ΔPSS and ΔCIS-T total had a statistically significant effect on the ΔCBPAQ total (p = 0.003 and p = 0.007), ΔPSS and ΔCIS-T total were independent predictors of ΔCBPAQ total (Δ: before-one year after the declaration of the pandemic). CONCLUSION University students had positive attitudes and behaviors related to PA and they increased their PA levels, although not significantly, compared to before the declaration of the pandemic. Perceived stress and fatigue may have an effect on attitudes and behaviors related to PA and PA levels. It is thought that university students continue their routines despite the many limitations of the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gulhan Yilmaz Gokmen
- Department of Cardiopulmonary Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Division of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Bandırma Onyedi Eylul University, Bandirma, Turkey
| | - Sule Kecelioglu
- Department of Orthopedic Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Division of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Bandırma Onyedi Eylul University, Bandirma, Turkey
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7
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Rawal T, Muris JWM, Mishra VK, Arora M, Tandon N, van Schayck OCP. Effect of an educational intervention on diet and physical activity among school-aged adolescents in Delhi -The i-PROMISe (PROMoting health literacy in Schools) Plus Study. DIALOGUES IN HEALTH 2023; 2:100123. [PMID: 36919028 PMCID: PMC9991929 DOI: 10.1016/j.dialog.2023.100123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 01/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
Abstract
Purpose Emerging lifestyle changes due to rapid urbanization have led to an epidemiological transition and the rising prevalence of obesity is responsible for major non-communicable diseases (NCDs) which have further aggravated due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of a comprehensive school-based intervention on diet and physical activity-related behavior of adolescents. Methods In 2019, a cluster-randomized controlled trial was conducted in randomly selected (n = 8) private schools. A 2-year intervention program was implemented over consecutive academic years (2019-2020 and 2020-2021) with students who were in the 6th and 7th grades when the study began. Four schools were randomly assigned to the intervention (n = 794) and four schools to the control group (n = 774). Results The difference in changes in diet and physical-activity-related behaviors of the students between the intervention and control schools were not significant in the intention to treat analysis probably due to the large drop-out due to COVID-19 measures: 304 students were available for follow-up in the intervention group and 122 in the control group (391 cases were excluded to make data comparable with baseline survey). The intake of vegetables (once a day) [β = 0.35, OR = 1.42, 95% CI (1.03, 1.95)] in the per-protocol analysis has increased among adolescents in the intervention group as compared to the control group. Conclusion The findings of this study indicated a positive effect of the intervention on diet and physical-activity-related changes in the expected direction and highlights the importance of addressing such behavior to prevent obesity among adolescents and thus NCDs in the later stage of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tina Rawal
- Health Promotion Division, Public Health Foundation of India, Gurgaon, India.,Department of Family Medicine, Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Jean W M Muris
- Department of Family Medicine, Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Vijay Kumar Mishra
- Health Promotion Division, Public Health Foundation of India, Gurgaon, India
| | - Monika Arora
- Health Promotion Division, Public Health Foundation of India, Gurgaon, India
| | - Nikhil Tandon
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Onno C P van Schayck
- Department of Family Medicine, Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
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Sandhu S, Wilson E, Chattopadhyay K. Perceptions and Experiences of Undergraduate Students Regarding Social Media as a Tool for Government COVID-19-Related Messages: A Qualitative Study in Nottingham, UK. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:6903. [PMID: 37887641 PMCID: PMC10606761 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20206903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
The rise of social media has given way to its use as a form of public health communication. Previous research has shown social media-based interventions to be effective, particularly for university students. Social media was used as a tool for public health messaging during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, there is a lack of information regarding the experiences and perceptions of such messaging and its effectiveness among UK university students. A qualitative study was conducted to explore the perceptions and experiences of public health messaging on social media during the pandemic, as well as the effects of such messaging. Fourteen semi-structured interviews with undergraduate students at the University of Nottingham, UK, were conducted. Five main themes were identified: effects of COVID-19 on university students, use of social media by university students, COVID-19 messaging on social media, effects of public health messaging on social media in compliance with COVID-19 guidelines, and improving public health messaging for the future. This study provides a novel insight into the experiences and perceptions of undergraduate students at a UK university regarding public health messaging on social media during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanvir Sandhu
- Nottingham Centre for Public Health and Epidemiology, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK; (E.W.); (K.C.)
- Centre for Interprofessional Education and Learning, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Emma Wilson
- Nottingham Centre for Public Health and Epidemiology, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK; (E.W.); (K.C.)
- Nottingham Centre for Evidence Based Healthcare, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Kaushik Chattopadhyay
- Nottingham Centre for Public Health and Epidemiology, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK; (E.W.); (K.C.)
- Nottingham Centre for Evidence Based Healthcare, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
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George JO, Elayan S, Sykora M, Solter M, Feick R, Hewitt C, Liu Y, Shankardass K. The Role of Social Media in Building Pandemic Resilience in an Urban Community: A Qualitative Case Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:6707. [PMID: 37681847 PMCID: PMC10488116 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20176707] [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: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
This paper explores the influence of social media in fostering resilience within an urban spatial context, specifically in Bangalore, India, during the COVID-19 lockdown, a period marked by a surge in digital communication due to movement restrictions. To control the rapid spread of the virus, over 1.38 billion people were given stay-at-home orders by the government of India during the onset of the pandemic. The restrictions in movement forced individuals to shift to online modes of connection and communication. As the field of digital epidemiology, that is, the use of digital tools and data to understand and improve health took center stage during the pandemic, the focus shifted towards the social media landscape, which is often associated with its negative aspects, such as misinformation. However, this paper delves into social media's potential to build resilience on a local scale, particularly given its increased usage during the pandemic. Through in-depth online interviews with eight urban residents, we conducted a thematic analysis to understand social media's role during the lockdown. Results indicate that social media facilitated effective information exchange and fostered a sense of community. Furthermore, it engendered an environment conducive to prosocial behavior, a known resilience amplifier. We also highlight the importance of baseline context regarding the users directly engaged in social media data generation with respect to digital epidemiology analytics tools for large-scale social media data and the need for qualitative input feeding into their design. Our study highlights the need for a balanced perspective on social media use in times of crisis, recognizing its potential to boost community resilience in an urban setting, and further enriching digital epidemiology approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel Oommen George
- Centre for Information Management, Loughborough Business School, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK (M.S.)
| | - Suzanne Elayan
- Centre for Information Management, Loughborough Business School, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK (M.S.)
| | - Martin Sykora
- Centre for Information Management, Loughborough Business School, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK (M.S.)
| | - Marin Solter
- Centre for Information Management, Loughborough Business School, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK (M.S.)
| | - Rob Feick
- School of Planning, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Christopher Hewitt
- Department of Health Sciences, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON M5B 1W8, Canada (K.S.)
| | - Yiqiao Liu
- Department of Health Sciences, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON M5B 1W8, Canada (K.S.)
| | - Ketan Shankardass
- Department of Health Sciences, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON M5B 1W8, Canada (K.S.)
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Lee C, Choi Y, Kim K, Lim Y, Im H, Hong SJ. Health-promoting behavior among undergraduate students in the COVID-19 era: Its association with problematic use of social media, social isolation, and online health information-seeking behavior. Arch Psychiatr Nurs 2023; 45:1-6. [PMID: 37544683 PMCID: PMC10162475 DOI: 10.1016/j.apnu.2023.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine the association between problematic use of social media, online health information-seeking, social isolation, and health-promoting behaviors among Korean undergraduate students. METHODS In total, 178 undergraduate students participated in this study. A multiple linear regression analysis was performed. RESULTS Predictors of health-promoting behaviors included overall time spent on social media, problematic social media use, social isolation, and online information-seeking, explaining 33.5 % of the variance in health-promoting behaviors. CONCLUSION Prolonged social media use and social isolation negatively affected undergraduate students' health-promoting behaviors, while online information-seeking positively affected them. Nurses should assist young adults in improving health-promoting behaviors by preventing problematic social media uses, reducing social isolation, and strengthening their online health information-seeking ability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaeyoung Lee
- College of Nursing, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Yujeong Choi
- College of Nursing, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Kyounghae Kim
- College of Nursing, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea; Institute of Nursing Research, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea; Transdisciplinary Major in Learning Health Systems, Department of Healthcare Sciences, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Yein Lim
- College of Nursing, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Haeun Im
- College of Nursing, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Se Jin Hong
- College of Nursing, Gachon University, Incheon, South Korea.
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic changed access to healthcare and decreased mental and physical wellbeing. It also significantly altered teens' relationship with social media. This article is a current review of the literature on the impact of COVID-19 on adolescent health overall. In addition, how social media use has both improved and worsened the impact of COVID-19, along with strategies providers should consider in wanting to address social media use with teens. RECENT FINDINGS The COVID-19 pandemic has affected adolescents through increased social isolation and decreased access to healthcare resources. Social media use has both positive and negative effects on adolescent health. Positive effects include sustained connection to friends, family and community while negative effects include lower self-esteem and increased incidence of eating disorders. SUMMARY Our findings underscore the multifaceted impact of social media on adolescent mental health, physical wellbeing, and healthcare access. Of particular relevance to the physician is the potential of leveraging social media to promote healthy behaviors in vulnerable age groups and populations. Social media can be used to connect teens with reputable websites where they can seek medical or health information that would otherwise not readily be available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha Ramsey
- School Health Program, Montefiore Medical Group, Bronx, New York
| | - Malik Obeidallah
- Department of Global Studies, Asian and Middle Eastern Studies Program, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia
| | - Anisha Abraham
- Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, Children's National Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
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Farley ZS, McDonough K, Richards EA, Smock CR. Health education and promotion of #PhysicalActivity on Twitter before and during COVID-19. HEALTH EDUCATION JOURNAL 2023; 82:286-296. [PMID: 38603458 PMCID: PMC9941003 DOI: 10.1177/00178969231154076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Objective Twitter, a microblogging service, allows users to post short messages (tweets) and link posts through hashtags, creating online communities to enable dissemination of health education. The objective of this descriptive study was to examine Twitter's #PhysicalActivity health education and promotion efforts, including differences in response before (March 2019-February 2020) and during (March 2020-February 2021) the COVID-19 pandemic. Design setting and methods A codebook was developed to conduct a quantitative content analysis of #PhysicalActivity tweets before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Twitter's Advanced Search parameters included minimum 1 reply, 25 likes and 5 retweets. Tweets were double-coded for user characteristics, community response, tweet elements (video, photo, link, questions, events, original text, survey/response, journal article, infographic) and intended audience. T-tests examined differences in researcher-generated NET response (replies + retweets + likes) between COVID-19 and comparison years. Results Data were collected from 400 tweets. Eighty percent of tweets were from personal accounts, with over half indicating the possession of a health professional degree. Twenty-nine percent of tweets gave behavioural recommendations of which 56.8% provided a rationale. Nearly all used at least two components, text and photos most common. The general public was the most intended audience with health professionals second. While the NET response was greater during COVID-19 (M = 139.6, SD = 156.8) than prior to it (M = 116.8, SD = 105.1), the difference was not statistically significant (p = .091). Conclusion Twitter platform provided an opportunity to disseminate health education, specifically for the promotion of physical activity, while adhering to public health recommendations to #StaySafeStayHome. Our findings provide insights into engaging this online community to inform future physical education and promotion dissemination.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kalyn McDonough
- Department of Social Work, University
of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Carissa R Smock
- School of Business and Economics,
National University, San Diego, CA, USA
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13
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Asadi F, Rahimi F, Ghaderkhany S, Almasi S. Self-care for coronavirus disease through electronic health technologies: A scoping review. Health Sci Rep 2023; 6:e1122. [PMID: 36824616 PMCID: PMC9941480 DOI: 10.1002/hsr2.1122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and Aims Considering the rapid spread and transmission of COVID-19 and its high mortality rate, self-care practices are of special importance during this pandemic to prevent and control the spread of the virus. In this regard, electronic health systems can play a major role in improving self-care practices related to coronavirus disease. This study aimed to review the electronic health technologies used in each of the constituent elements of the self-care (self-care maintenance, self-care monitoring, and self-care management) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods This scoping review was conducted based on Arksey and O'Malley's framework. In this study, the specific keywords related to "electronic health," "self-care," and "COVID-19" were searched on PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google. Results Of the 47 articles reviewed, most articles (27 articles) were about self-care monitoring and aimed to monitor the vital signs of patients. The results showed that the use of electronic health tools mainly focuses on training in the control and prevention of coronavirus disease during this pandemic, in the field of self-care maintenance, and medication management, communication, and consultation with healthcare providers, in the field of self-care management. Moreover, the most commonly used electronic health technologies were mobile web applications, smart vital signs monitoring devices, and social networks, respectively. Conclusion The study findings suggested that the use of electronic health technologies, such as mobile web applications and social networks, can effectively improve self-care practices for coronavirus disease. In addition, such technologies can be applied by health policymakers and disease control and prevention centers to better manage the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farkhondeh Asadi
- Department of Health Information Technology and Management, School of Allied Medical SciencesShahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
| | - Fatemeh Rahimi
- Department of Health Information Technology and Management, School of Allied Medical SciencesShahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
| | - Shady Ghaderkhany
- Clinical Research Development Unit, Kowsar Medical, Educational and Therapeutic CenterKurdistan University of Medical SciencesSanandajIran
| | - Sohrab Almasi
- Department of Health Information Technology and Management, Health Information Management, School of Allied Medical SciencesShahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
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14
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Narin S, Kecelioglu S. Musculoskeletal problems, attitudes and behaviors related to physical activity, and social media addiction in musicians during the COVID-19 pandemic. Work 2023:WOR220479. [PMID: 36641730 DOI: 10.3233/wor-220479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Musculoskeletal problems are common in musicians. Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) has brought with it lockdowns and quarantine periods, and as a result, caused physical and psychological problems. OBJECTIVE To evaluate musculoskeletal problems, attitudes and behaviors related to physical activity, and social media addiction in musicians during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS This cross-sectional study was conducted on a total of 137 musicians (string, keyboard, wind, percussion instrument players, and vocalists) online. Musculoskeletal problems with Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire (CMDQ), attitudes and behaviors related to physical activity with Cognitive Behavioral Physical Activity Questionnaire (CBPAQ), social media addiction with Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS) were evaluated. RESULTS In CMDQ, it was found that upper back, lower back, and neck problems were more common in all musicians. There were no differences between instrument groups in terms of CBPAQ sub-dimensions, total CBPAQ, and total BSMAS (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION Considering the dramatic effects of COVID-19, it may be important not to ignore musicians' musculoskeletal problems. It is recommended to design future studies investigating the effects of social media platforms on physical activity awareness by turning the opportunities of COVID-19 into advantages for challenges in musicians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selnur Narin
- Department of Orthopaedic Physiotherapy, Faculty of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Dokuz Eylul University, Inciraltı-Izmir, Turkey
| | - Sule Kecelioglu
- Division of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Department of Orthopedic Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Bandirma Onyedi Eylul University, Bandırma-Balıkesir, Turkey
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15
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So B, Kwon KH. A 'health message' on sustainable physical and mental health for the prolonged COVID-19 and other pandemics. Postgrad Med 2023; 135:13-30. [PMID: 36219130 DOI: 10.1080/00325481.2022.2134693] [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: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
The world has been living with another pandemic physical inactivity (PI) and sedentary behavior (SB) and of other nature for years. As social measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 have been strengthened, the physical activity (PA) barrier has been hit and the PI/SB pandemic has been exacerbated, and in the current situation, triggered by its prolonged period, it is emerging as a problem to be considered in order to combat the PI/SB pandemic through PA and to maintain continuous physical and mental health. This review aims to summarize existing and recent studies on the effects of PA/SB on physical and mental health in preparation for the context of prolonged COVID-19 and provides an easy and fun way to motivate, access PA, and PA recommendations for maintaining physical and mental health. We performed search strategies on PubMed, Medline, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases, and used a literature review of the current available literature on the COVID-19 and the effects of PI, SB, and PA on physical and mental health. The clinical relevance of this review shows that integrating PA into daily life and reducing prolonged sitting time is an important strategy for continuing a healthy life physically and mentally. As a result, for those who have not yet incorporated exercise as part of their daily routine, fun and easy access to PA suggests that in the long run, may be an opportunity to implement newer habits. In addition, in an emergency such as the COVID-19 quarantine period or other pandemics, it is essential for one to maintain health through PA at home, and underscore the 'health message' of the current review that reducing SB, progressively increasing PA, and doing more PA regularly in the current context prolonged COVID-19 can bring significant benefits to long-term habits and physical and mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bohee So
- Division of Beauty Arts Care, Department of Practical Arts, Graduate School of Culture and Arts, Dongguk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ki Han Kwon
- College of General Education, Kookmin University, 02707, Republic of Korea
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16
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Hegazi O, Alalalmeh S, Alfaresi A, Dashtinezhad S, Bahada A, Shahwan M, Jairoun AA, Babalola TK, Yasin H. Development, Validation, and Utilization of a Social Media Use and Mental Health Questionnaire among Middle Eastern and Western Adults: A Pilot Study from the UAE. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:16063. [PMID: 36498139 PMCID: PMC9736958 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192316063] [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: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We aimed to develop and validate a mental health stigma measurement tool for use within the social media context, utilizing the tool to assess whether the stigma shown in face-to-face interactions translates to social media, coupled with comparing whether social media use can cause the stigma among a sample of Middle Eastern and Western populations. METHODS The development and validation phase comprised a systematic process that was used to develop an assessment tool that could be used within the social media context and establish its validity and reliability. A 5-point Likert-type scale (1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree) was developed to assess mental health stigma. The anonymous questionnaire was distributed from June 2022 to August 2022 on various social media platforms and groups predominated by the two demographics of interest, enrolling 1328 participants (with only 1001 responses deemed valid). The utilization phase consisted of bivariate and multivariable analysis of the data. The cutoff points for low, medium, and high scores were the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentil, respectively. RESULTS The instrument comprised three dimensions: acceptance, intolerance, and digital care sentiment. In the Middle Eastern subset of participants, a higher score of intolerance (more stigma) toward mental illness was found in 72.4% of the participants, with a higher score of acceptance being 35.1% and of digital care sentiment being 46.4%. The mean scores for all the scales were as follows: intolerance (3.08 ± 0.64), acceptance (3.87 ± 0.71), and digital care sentiment (3.18 ± 0.69). For Westerners, a higher score of intolerance toward mental illness was found in 24.0% of the participants, with a higher score of acceptance being 56.8% and of digital care sentiment being 38.2%. The mean scores for all the scales were as follows: intolerance (2.28 ± 0.73), acceptance (4.21 ± 0.61), and digital care sentiment (3.08 ± 0.62). Various results were obtained regarding the effect of individual social media platforms on the different subscales. CONCLUSIONS Stigma does follow people on social media, whether they are Middle Easterners or Westerners, although to varying degrees. The results of social media interaction and activity varied based on the group that used them, with some having an impact on one group but not the other. For these reasons, proper guidance is advised when utilizing and interacting with social media platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omar Hegazi
- College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University, Ajman 346, United Arab Emirates
| | - Samer Alalalmeh
- College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University, Ajman 346, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ahmad Alfaresi
- College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University, Ajman 346, United Arab Emirates
| | - Soheil Dashtinezhad
- College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University, Ajman 346, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ahmed Bahada
- College of Engineering, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates
| | - Moyad Shahwan
- College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University, Ajman 346, United Arab Emirates
- Centre of Medical and Bio-allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman 346, United Arab Emirates
| | | | - Tesleem K. Babalola
- Program in Public Health, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Haya Yasin
- College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University, Ajman 346, United Arab Emirates
- Centre of Medical and Bio-allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman 346, United Arab Emirates
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17
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Schallhorn C, Nölleke D, Sinner P, Seeger C, Nieland JU, Horky T, Mehler K. Mediatization in Times of Pandemic: How German Grassroots Sports Clubs Employed Digital Media to Overcome Communication Challenges During COVID-19. COMMUNICATION & SPORT 2022; 10:891-912. [PMID: 37521903 PMCID: PMC9234375 DOI: 10.1177/21674795221109759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on all societal domains, including sports. Social distancing measures and the closure of sports facilities posed especially severe challenges for grassroots sports clubs, which thrive on joint activities and member social contact. Drawing on mediatization theory, the study examines the communication challenges faced by grassroots sports clubs and the perceived potential of digital media to overcome these obstacles during and beyond the pandemic. Based on in-depth interviews with 32 club officials of German grassroots sports clubs, the study identified ongoing uncertainty about COVID-19 regulations, preserving members' sense of belonging during social distancing, and involving everyone in formal processes as the major communication challenges. While most of the interviewees valued the potential of digital media to address these challenges, they acknowledged that the benefits of digital media for individual members would depend on their skill, motivation, and concerns, as well as on the availability of digital infrastructure. For that reason, digital media were not considered a substitute for face-to-face social contact or sporting activity but were seen to extend opportunities for communication and training. More generally, these findings raise new questions about the relationship between mediatization and social cohesion.
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18
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Parker K, Gould L, Nand M, Rawstorn JC, Contardo Ayala AM, Maddison R, Toffoletti K. Understanding Australian adolescent girls' use of digital technologies for healthy lifestyle purposes: a mixed-methods study. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:1464. [PMID: 35915431 PMCID: PMC9341407 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-13869-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Little is known about girls’ use of a broad range of digital technologies to support a healthy lifestyle, particularly during the later adolescent years when they are expected to take greater responsibility for individually managing their health and wellbeing. The present study was designed to gain an in-depth understanding of adolescent girls’, 15 to 17 years of age, use of a broad range of digital technologies to support multiple healthy lifestyle purposes. Methods This study used a mixed-methods sequential research design (i.e. quantitative and qualitative data in two consecutive phases). A quantitative online survey was conducted to determine the use of digital technologies for healthy lifestyle purposes. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with a subset of survey respondents to explore factors influencing their technology use and preferences. Results Descriptive analysis of survey data (online survey, n = 336) demonstrated the popularity of social media and online video sharing platforms, with evidence that the use of digital technologies does not occur in isolation and girls draw on several resources simultaneously to achieve their desired healthy lifestyle outcomes. Thematic analysis of interview data (semi-structured interviews, n = 29) revealed seven interrelated themes around factors influencing girls’ use of, and satisfaction with, different digital technologies: accessibility, social connectivity, credibility, relatability, inspiration, safety, and customisability. Conclusions The findings reiterate that one size doesn’t fit all girls, and often one size might not even fit one girl, and thus highlight the challenge of catering to such varied use cases. Overall, it appears that current digital technology offerings meet the needs and preferences of adolescent girls for healthy lifestyle purposes, however there may be benefit in allowing greater customisation of use, and consumer driven tailoring of content, according to personal preferences and changing circumstances. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-022-13869-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate Parker
- School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), Geelong, 3220, Australia
| | - Laura Gould
- School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), Geelong, 3220, Australia
| | - Meenal Nand
- School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, 3220, Australia
| | - Jonathan C Rawstorn
- School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), Geelong, 3220, Australia
| | - Ana Maria Contardo Ayala
- School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), Geelong, 3220, Australia
| | - Ralph Maddison
- School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), Geelong, 3220, Australia
| | - Kim Toffoletti
- School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, 3220, Australia.
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19
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Ling L, Qian X, Guo S, Ukkusuri SV. Spatiotemporal impacts of human activities and socio-demographics during the COVID-19 outbreak in the US. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:1466. [PMID: 35915442 PMCID: PMC9341421 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-13793-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Understanding non-epidemiological factors is essential for the surveillance and prevention of infectious diseases, and the factors are likely to vary spatially and temporally as the disease progresses. However, the impacts of these influencing factors were primarily assumed to be stationary over time and space in the existing literature. The spatiotemporal impacts of mobility-related and social-demographic factors on disease dynamics remain to be explored. Methods Taking daily cases data during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in the US as a case study, we develop a mobility-augmented geographically and temporally weighted regression (M-GTWR) model to quantify the spatiotemporal impacts of social-demographic factors and human activities on the COVID-19 dynamics. Different from the base GTWR model, the proposed M-GTWR model incorporates a mobility-adjusted distance weight matrix where travel mobility is used in addition to the spatial adjacency to capture the correlations among local observations. Results The results reveal that the impacts of social-demographic and human activity variables present significant spatiotemporal heterogeneity. In particular, a 1% increase in population density may lead to 0.63% more daily cases, and a 1% increase in the mean commuting time may result in 0.22% increases in daily cases. Although increased human activities will, in general, intensify the disease outbreak, we report that the effects of grocery and pharmacy-related activities are insignificant in areas with high population density. And activities at the workplace and public transit are found to either increase or decrease the number of cases, depending on particular locations. Conclusions Through a mobility-augmented spatiotemporal modeling approach, we could quantify the time and space varying impacts of non-epidemiological factors on COVID-19 cases. The results suggest that the effects of population density, socio-demographic attributes, and travel-related attributes will differ significantly depending on the time of the pandemic and the underlying location. Moreover, policy restrictions on human contact are not universally effective in preventing the spread of diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Ling
- Lyles School of Civil Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, USA
| | - Xinwu Qian
- Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, USA
| | - Shuocheng Guo
- Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, USA
| | - Satish V Ukkusuri
- Lyles School of Civil Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, USA.
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20
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Burkauskas J, Fineberg NA, Ioannidis K, Chamberlain SR, Bowden-Jones H, Griskova-Bulanova I, Pranckeviciene A, Dores AR, Carvalho IP, Barbosa F, Simonato P, De Luca I, Mooney R, Gómez-Martínez MÁ, Demetrovics Z, Ábel KE, Szabo A, Fujiwara H, Shibata M, Melero-Ventola AR, Arroyo-Anlló EM, Santos-Labrador RM, Kobayashi K, Di Carlo F, Monteiro C, Martinotti G, Corazza O. Online Behaviours during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Their Associations with Psychological Factors: An International Exploratory Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19148823. [PMID: 35886679 PMCID: PMC9323465 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19148823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
This cross-sectional study aimed to explore specific online behaviours and their association with a range of underlying psychological and other behavioural factors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Eight countries (Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Lithuania, Portugal, Japan, Hungary, and Brazil) participated in an international investigation involving 2223 participants (M = 33 years old; SD = 11), 70% of whom were females. Participants were surveyed for specific type of Internet use severity, appearance anxiety, self-compassion, and image and use of performance-enhancing drugs (IPEDs). Results were compared cross-culturally. The mean time spent online was 5 h (SD = ±3) of daily browsing during the pandemic. The most commonly performed activities included social networking, streaming, and general surfing. A strong association between these online behaviours and appearance anxiety, self-compassion, and IPEDs use was found after adjustment for possible confounders, with higher scores being associated with specific online activities. Significant cross-cultural differences also emerged in terms of the amount of time spent online during the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julius Burkauskas
- Laboratory of Behavioral Medicine, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, 00135 Palanga, Lithuania;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +370-612-04885
| | - Naomi A. Fineberg
- Department of Clinical, Pharmaceutical and Biological Sciences, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield AL10 9EU, UK; (N.A.F.); (P.S.); (I.D.L.); (G.M.); (O.C.)
| | - Konstantinos Ioannidis
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1TN, UK; (K.I.); (H.B.-J.)
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
- Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton SO40 2RZ, UK
| | - Samuel R. Chamberlain
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
- Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton SO40 2RZ, UK
| | - Henrietta Bowden-Jones
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1TN, UK; (K.I.); (H.B.-J.)
| | - Inga Griskova-Bulanova
- Department of Neurobiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biosciences, Vilnius University, 03225 Vilnius, Lithuania;
| | - Aiste Pranckeviciene
- Laboratory of Behavioral Medicine, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, 00135 Palanga, Lithuania;
| | - Artemisa R. Dores
- School of Health, Polytechnic of Porto, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal;
- Laboratory of Neuropsychophysiology, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal;
| | - Irene P. Carvalho
- Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal;
- CINTESIS@RISE, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
| | - Fernando Barbosa
- Laboratory of Neuropsychophysiology, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal;
| | - Pierluigi Simonato
- Department of Clinical, Pharmaceutical and Biological Sciences, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield AL10 9EU, UK; (N.A.F.); (P.S.); (I.D.L.); (G.M.); (O.C.)
| | - Ilaria De Luca
- Department of Clinical, Pharmaceutical and Biological Sciences, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield AL10 9EU, UK; (N.A.F.); (P.S.); (I.D.L.); (G.M.); (O.C.)
| | - Rosin Mooney
- Medical Sciences Division, Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TG, UK;
| | | | - Zsolt Demetrovics
- Centre of Excellence in Responsible Gaming, University of Gibraltar, Gibraltar GX11 1AA, Gibraltar;
- Institute of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, 1117 Budapest, Hungary; (K.E.Á.); (A.S.)
| | - Krisztina Edina Ábel
- Institute of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, 1117 Budapest, Hungary; (K.E.Á.); (A.S.)
| | - Attila Szabo
- Institute of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, 1117 Budapest, Hungary; (K.E.Á.); (A.S.)
- Institute of Health Promotion and Sport Sciences, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, 1117 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Hironobu Fujiwara
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Kyoto, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan; (H.F.); (M.S.); (K.K.)
- Artificial Intelligence Ethics and Society Team, RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project, Saitama 103-0027, Japan
- General Research Division, Research Center on Ethical, Legal and Social Issues, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Mami Shibata
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Kyoto, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan; (H.F.); (M.S.); (K.K.)
| | - Alejandra R. Melero-Ventola
- Department of Psychology, Pontifical University of Salamanca, 37002 Salamanca, Spain; (M.Á.G.-M.); (A.R.M.-V.)
| | - Eva M. Arroyo-Anlló
- Department of Psychobiology, Neuroscience Institute of Castilla-León, University of Salamanca, 37002 Salamanca, Spain;
| | - Ricardo M. Santos-Labrador
- Department of Physical Education, University Teacher’s College ‘Fray Luis de León’, 47010 Valladolid, Spain;
| | - Kei Kobayashi
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Kyoto, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan; (H.F.); (M.S.); (K.K.)
| | - Francesco Di Carlo
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Science “G. d’Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy;
| | - Cristina Monteiro
- Department of Psychometrics, Institute of Psychology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil;
| | - Giovanni Martinotti
- Department of Clinical, Pharmaceutical and Biological Sciences, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield AL10 9EU, UK; (N.A.F.); (P.S.); (I.D.L.); (G.M.); (O.C.)
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Science “G. d’Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy;
| | - Ornella Corazza
- Department of Clinical, Pharmaceutical and Biological Sciences, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield AL10 9EU, UK; (N.A.F.); (P.S.); (I.D.L.); (G.M.); (O.C.)
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Gonçalves L, Moraes MS, Silva DAS. Counseling for Physical Activity in Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Scope Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19148687. [PMID: 35886538 PMCID: PMC9322393 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19148687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Objective: The aim of this scope review was to map the available scientific evidence on physical activity counseling for adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The search was performed in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, LILACS, SciELO, and CINAHL databases. Studies that described the population of adults over 18 years of age that used physical activity counseling during the COVID-19 pandemic context were selected. Data extracted were author, study location, sample, age group, sex, population characteristics, design, means used for intervention, time of intervention, professionals involved, and intervention or counseling strategy. Results: Physical activity counseling interventions were aimed at participants with insufficient levels of physical activity or with comorbidities; counseling was carried out in the online format; by health professionals, in the highest proportion of coaches, physicians, researchers, and nutritionists; through educational contents regarding the practice of physical activity; and using the transtheoretical model of behavior change as a reference method. Conclusions: The results of this review can provide tools for health professionals to assist in the process of coping with physical inactivity.
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22
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Shipley A, Fallows E. Juggling two pandemics: The simultaneous necessity and difficulty of practising lifestyle medicine during the COVID-19 era. LIFESTYLE MEDICINE 2022; 3:e68. [PMID: 37520338 PMCID: PMC9539232 DOI: 10.1002/lim2.68] [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] [Received: 05/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Since early 2020, COVID-19 has dominated headlines, claimed millions of lives, crippled global economies, overwhelmed health services, attracted multi-disciplinary scientific attention and transformed our daily lives. Unsurprisingly, the Lifestyle Medicine field has not been immune to the pandemic's wide-reaching influence. Although COVID-19 highlighted the necessity of maintaining healthy behaviours, the associated lockdowns and social distancing measures challenged our ability to do so. Attempts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 may, therefore, have exacerbated the obesity pandemic and other diseases associated with unhealthy lifestyle habits. One hopes this devastating virus provides the impetus for policymakers, clinicians and patients to collaborate in tackling the diseases of modern life. This commentary explores how lifestyle-correlated conditions (which are closely intertwined with socioeconomic factors) rendered much of the UK population vulnerable to COVID-19 infection, morbidity and mortality. Subsequently, we consider the impact of lockdown measures on the accessibility of healthy living, focussing on eating behaviours, physical activity, relationships, sleep and substance abuse, as well as the social demographics particularly affected. Approaching the aftermath of this vicious cycle with optimism, we discuss why the post-Covid era presents a unique opportunity for Lifestyle Medicine, as an evidence-based approach to supporting patients to adopt and sustain healthy behaviours.
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23
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Henström M, Duncanson K, Collins CE, Ashton LM, Davidson E, Ball R. Online reach and engagement of a child nutrition peer-education program (PICNIC): insights from social media and web analytics. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:836. [PMID: 35473610 PMCID: PMC9041288 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-13252-3] [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] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Parents frequently seek parental advice online and on social media; thus, these channels should be better utilized in child health interventions. The Parents in Child Nutrition Informing Community (PICNIC) program aims to facilitate peer-to-peer sharing of evidence-based child feeding information and support parents within their social networks. The present study aimed to explore web and social media analytics to evaluate reach and user engagement with the PICNIC online components. METHODS Online user activity data from the PICNIC Facebook closed group and public Page were collected through Facebook Insights, and program-specific website traffic data through Google Analytics. Analytics data from Nov-2019 to April-2021 was evaluated through visualisation and summary statistics to obtain insights into program growth and current reach in Australia, compare demographics of audience reached through the online channels, and explore parents' use and engagement in PICNIC content. RESULTS Results showed steady program growth in the 18 months of recruitment; participant numbers grew from 102 to 261 peer educators while the Facebook Page audience increased threefold, totalling 1615 followers. Intervention posts shared on Facebook (4-5 posts/week) typically reached only a portion of PICNIC Page followers each week, but also reached a wider audience through their friends. Throughout the evaluated period, Facebook users actively engaged in PICNIC posts, although the level of engagement varied considerably from post to post. Furthermore, results from this study suggest the strategy of directing potentially interested parents from social media to the website for program sign-up was successful. Finally, the explored data gave insights into users' availability, demographics and engagement, which will be used to inform refinement of the PICNIC website and social media strategies. CONCLUSIONS Our findings confirm the benefits of using a peer education approach and existing social network channels to disseminate evidence-based child feeding information to parents. This study also demonstrates the usefulness of web and social media analytics to be used as part of a continuous evaluation for gaining insight to inform further development and improvement of program strategies. TRIAL REGISTRATION The PICNIC project was retrospectively submitted for registration with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR), ACTRN12622000230752 (09/02/2022).
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Henström
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 83, Huddinge, Sweden. .,School of Health Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia.
| | - Kerith Duncanson
- School of Medicine and Public Health, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia.,Priority Research Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia
| | - Clare E Collins
- School of Health Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia.,Priority Research Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia
| | - Lee M Ashton
- School of Health Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia.,Priority Research Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia.,School of Education, College of Human and Social Futures, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia
| | - Emma Davidson
- Hunter New England Local Health District, Wallsend, NSW, 2287, Australia
| | - Richard Ball
- School of Health Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia.,Mid North Coast Local Health District, Port Macquarie, NSW, 2444, Australia
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24
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Is Social Media a New Type of Social Support? Social Media Use in Spain during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed Methods Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19073952. [PMID: 35409634 PMCID: PMC8997662 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19073952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
This study examines Spanish adults’ social media use during the COVID-19 pandemic using mixed-methods to assess and understand frequency, context, and changes in social media use during two critical time points in Spain. We conducted semi-structured interviews in April 2020, and two waves of surveys (April 2020, April 2021) among Spanish adults. We coded and analyzed qualitative data related to social media use during the first lockdown period in Spain using Dedoose software; and ran descriptive statistics and chi-square tests to assess changes in social media use over the two survey waves related to perceived social support and loneliness. Participants ranged in age from 18–92 and were representative of the Spanish population’s sociodemographics. Interview data show that WhatsApp was most commonly used, and that social media allowed for social support and engaging in healthy behaviors. Survey data show that women and individuals aged 18–34 had the greatest increases in social media use. Statistically significant associations were found between social support and loneliness with social media use. Our results show that promoting social media use as an emotional resource for social support in times of crisis or isolation can minimize loneliness and can be a beneficial tool for general worldwide crises.
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25
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Hossain A, Munam AM. Factors influencing facebook addiction among Varendra University students in the lockdown during the COVID-19 outbreak. COMPUTERS IN HUMAN BEHAVIOR REPORTS 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chbr.2022.100181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
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26
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The Association between Gender and Physical Activity Was Partially Mediated by Social Network Size during COVID-19. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19052495. [PMID: 35270188 PMCID: PMC8909104 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19052495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted physical activity, particularly among women. Limited research has explored how social network support may explain gender-based variations in physical activity during COVID-19. The purpose of this study was to examine the mediating role of social networks in the association between gender and physical activity during a pandemic. This cross-sectional survey assessed whether social network characteristics (i.e., in-person social network size, frequency of in-person social network interactions, and online friend network size) mediate the relationship between gender and either past-week or past-year physical activity. Multiple mediation analyses were conducted to determine the indirect effect of gender on physical activity through social networks. Among 205 participants, women (n = 129) were significantly less physically active (β = −73.82; p = 0.02) than men (n = 76) and reported significantly more Facebook friends (β = 0.30; p < 0.001) than men, which was inversely associated with past-week physical activity (β = −64.49; p = 0.03). Additionally, the indirect effect of gender on past-week physical activity through Facebook friends was significant (β = −19.13; 95% CI [−40.45, −2.09]). Findings suggest that social media sites such as Facebook could be used to encourage physical activity among women during a pandemic.
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27
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Social Media and Students’ Wellbeing: An Empirical Analysis during the Covid-19 Pandemic. SUSTAINABILITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/su131810442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Various forms of social media (SM) appear to be very popular among young people because they provide information and entertainment, including a wide range of web technologies such as blogs, wikis, online social networks, and virtual networks. SM plays a huge role in the lives of children and teenagers, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the computer becomes not only a means of entertainment or leisure, but also a necessary and everyday means of education and communication with other people. Thus, COVID-19 has brought a radical change, not only in the daily schedule and leisure time of pupils and students, but also in the perception of the procedures used by this specific group in the online space. Through our own research, using structured interviews and a questionnaire, we examine the use of SM as a tool to promote sustainable well-being in a group of high school students from various schools in central Slovak Republic (formerly Czechoslovakia). The research confirms that during the pandemic, the use of SM by the young respondents contributes significantly to well-being. This is the case when SM is used by high school students as a tool in promoting: (1) personal interests; (2) motivation; (3) communication and interpersonal connectivity; (4) preferred forms of online education; and (5) online games. The article presents a set of recommendations regarding the use of SM as a tool for sustaining the well-being of young people during the pandemic.
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Will Nothing Be the Same Again?: Changes in Lifestyle during COVID-19 Pandemic and Consequences on Mental Health. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18168433. [PMID: 34444180 PMCID: PMC8393535 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18168433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Social isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has drastically affected lifestyles: from sedentary behaviors to reduced physical activity, from disrupted sleep patterns to altered dietary habits. As a consequence, serious mental and emotional responses have been registered. There was a significant decline in physical and other meaningful activities of daily living, leisure, social activity, and education. In children, collateral effects of the pandemic include inadequate nutrition with a risk of both overweight and underweight, addiction to screens, lack of schooling, and psychosocial difficulties. Older adults are frequently unable to adapt to lockdown measures and suffer from depression and cognitive complaints. Recent studies focusing on changes in lifestyle during the Covid-19 pandemic and consequences on mental health have been identified in PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Embase, and ScienceDirect. All the available literature has been retrospectively reviewed. The results of the present narrative review suggest that mental distress caused by social isolation seems to be linked not only to personality characteristics but also to several lifestyle components (sleep disruption, altered eating habits, reduced physical activity). This review aims to explore major changes in the lifestyle and quality of life and the impact of these changes on mental health, and to inform clinicians and policymakers about elements that may reduce the negative psychological effects of the quarantine period imposed during this worldwide crisis. There is an urgent need for tailored preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic mental health interventions for the general population and for higher risk groups.
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