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Earle-Richardson G, Nestor C, Fisher KA, Soelaeman RH, Calanan RM, Yee D, Craig C, Reese P, Prue CE. Attitudes, Beliefs, and Perceptions Associated with Mask Wearing within Four Racial and Ethnic Groups Early in the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2024; 11:1628-1642. [PMID: 37258995 PMCID: PMC10231299 DOI: 10.1007/s40615-023-01638-x] [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: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While previous studies have identified a range of factors associated with mask wearing in the US, little is known about drivers of mask-wearing among racial and ethnic minority groups. This analysis assessed whether factors positively associated with wearing a mask early in the pandemic differed between participants grouped by race/ethnicity (Hispanic, non-Hispanic Black, non-Hispanic Asian, and non-Hispanic White). METHOD Data were obtained from a US internet panel survey of 3217 respondents during May-November 2020 (weighted by race/ethnicity, age, gender, and education to the US national population). Within each of the four available racial/ethnic groups, crude and adjusted odds ratios (COR and AOR) were calculated using logistic regression to assess factors positively associated with wearing a mask. Adjusted models were controlled for age, gender, education, county COVID-19 case count, presence of a state-issued mask mandate, and interview month. RESULTS The following variables were most strongly positively associated with mask wearing (p<0.05) in each racial/ethnic group: Hispanic-seeing others wearing masks (AOR: 6.7), importance of wearing a mask combined with social distancing (AOR: 3.0); non-Hispanic Black-belief that wearing a mask would protect others from coronavirus (AOR: 5.1), reporting hearing that one should wear a mask (AOR: 3.6); non-Hispanic Asian-belief that people important to them believe they should wear a mask (COR: 5.1, not statistically significant); and non-Hispanic White-seeing others wearing masks (AOR: 3.1), importance of wearing a mask (AOR: 2.3). CONCLUSION Public health efforts to encourage mask wearing should consider the diversity of behavioral influences within different population groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Earle-Richardson
- National, Center for Emerging & Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA.
| | - Ciara Nestor
- National, Center for Emerging & Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA
| | - Kiva A Fisher
- Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA
| | - Rieza H Soelaeman
- National, Center for Emerging & Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA
| | - Renee M Calanan
- National, Center for Emerging & Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA
- US Public Health Service, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Daiva Yee
- Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA
| | - Christina Craig
- National, Center for Emerging & Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA
| | - Patricia Reese
- National, Center for Emerging & Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA
| | - Christine E Prue
- National, Center for Emerging & Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA
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Sharan M, Sakthivel M, Rubeshkumar P, Nagarajan R, Venkatasamy V, Muthappan S, Raju M, Chadwick J, S. K, Krishna NS, Kaviprawin M, Gollapalli PK, Ramamurthy S, Ganeshkumar P, Jagadeesan M, Kaur P. Face mask use in the city of Chennai, India: Results from three serial cross-sectional surveys, 2021. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0297909. [PMID: 38574080 PMCID: PMC10994359 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0297909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The Government of Tamil Nadu, India, mandated wearing face masks in public places to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. We established face mask surveillance and estimated the prevalence of appropriate mask use (covering the nose, mouth, and chin) in the slums and non-slums of Chennai at different time points in 2021. METHODS We conducted three serial cross-sectional surveys in the outdoors and indoors of Chennai in March, July, and October 2021. We observed the mask wearing among 3200 individuals in the outdoors and 1280 in the indoors. We divided the outdoor and indoor locations into slums and non-slums. In October 2021, we also surveyed 150 individuals from each of the 11 shopping malls in the city. We calculated the proportions and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) for the appropriate mask use in the outdoor, indoor, and malls by age, gender, region, and setting (slum and non-slum). RESULTS We observed 3200 individuals in the outdoor and 1280 individuals in the indoor setting, each from a slum and non-slum, during the three rounds of the study. In outdoor and indoors, males comprised three-fourths and middle-aged individuals were half the study population. Mask compliance changed significantly with time (p-value <0.001). Males consistently demonstrated better compliance in all rounds. The south region had the highest mask compliance in slums indoors and outdoors in rounds 4 and 5. Young adults had the highest mask compliance in both outdoor slums and non-slums in all rounds. Overall mask compliance in shopping malls was 57% (95% CI: 48-65). CONCLUSION The mask compliance in Chennai outdoors during the COVID-19 pandemic was less than 50%, with variations across time points by gender, age groups, and geographical locations. We must develop more effective communication strategies for older age groups and crowded indoor settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Murali Sharan
- Division of Noncommunicable Diseases, ICMR National Institute of Epidemiology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | | | - Polani Rubeshkumar
- Division of Noncommunicable Diseases, ICMR National Institute of Epidemiology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Ramya Nagarajan
- Division of Noncommunicable Diseases, ICMR National Institute of Epidemiology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Vettrichelvan Venkatasamy
- Division of Noncommunicable Diseases, ICMR National Institute of Epidemiology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Sendhilkumar Muthappan
- Division of Noncommunicable Diseases, ICMR National Institute of Epidemiology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | | | - Joshua Chadwick
- Division of Noncommunicable Diseases, ICMR National Institute of Epidemiology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | | | - Navaneeth S. Krishna
- Division of Noncommunicable Diseases, ICMR National Institute of Epidemiology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | | | | | | | - Parasuraman Ganeshkumar
- Division of Noncommunicable Diseases, ICMR National Institute of Epidemiology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | | | - Prabhdeep Kaur
- Division of Noncommunicable Diseases, ICMR National Institute of Epidemiology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
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Sood R, Entenman J, Kitt-Lewis E, Lennon RP, Pinto CN, Moss JL. We are all in this together: Rurality, Social cohesion, and COVID-19 prevention behaviors. J Rural Health 2024; 40:154-161. [PMID: 37430390 DOI: 10.1111/jrh.12781] [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: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Social cohesion refers to an individual's sense of belonging to their community and correlates with health outcomes. Rural communities tend to have higher social cohesion than urban communities. Social cohesion is relatively understudied as a factor impacting COVID-19 prevention behaviors. This study explores the associations between social cohesion, rurality, and COVID-19 prevention behaviors. METHODS Participants completed a questionnaire assessing rurality; social cohesion (subscales of (1) attraction to neighborhood, (2) acts of neighboring, and (3) sense of community); COVID-19 behaviors; and demographics. Chi-square tests were used to characterize participant demographics and COVID-19 behaviors. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression models were used to analyze the relationship between COVID-19 outcomes and rurality, social cohesion, and demographics. RESULTS Most participants (n = 2,926) were non-Hispanic White (78.2%) and married (60.4%); 36.9% were rural. Rural participants were less likely than urban participants to practice social distancing (78.7% vs 90.6%, P<.001) or stay home when sick (87.7% vs 93.5%, P<.001). Social distancing was more common among participants with higher "attraction to neighborhood" scores (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.09; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.26-3.47) but was less common among participants with higher "acts of neighboring" scores (aOR = 0.59; 95% CI = 0.40-0.88). Staying home when sick was also more common among participants with higher scores on "attraction to neighborhood" (aOR = 2.12; 95% CI = 1.15-3.91), and less common among participants with higher scores on "acts of neighboring" (aOR = 0.53; 95% CI = 0.33-0.86). CONCLUSIONS Efforts to maximize COVID-19 behavioral prevention, particularly among rural communities, should emphasize the importance of protecting the health of one's neighbors and how to support one's neighbors without face-to-face interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radhika Sood
- Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Erin Kitt-Lewis
- Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Casey N Pinto
- Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
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Li T, Fujimoto M, Hayashi K, Anzai A, Nishiura H. Habitual Mask Wearing as Part of COVID-19 Control in Japan: An Assessment Using the Self-Report Habit Index. Behav Sci (Basel) 2023; 13:951. [PMID: 37998697 PMCID: PMC10669277 DOI: 10.3390/bs13110951] [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: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Although the Japanese government removed mask-wearing requirements in 2023, relatively high rates of mask wearing have continued in Japan. We aimed to assess psychological reasons and the strength of habitual mask wearing in Japan. An Internet-based cross-sectional survey was conducted with non-random participant recruitment. We explored the frequency of mask usage, investigating psychological reasons for wearing masks. A regression analysis examined the association between psychological reasons and the frequency of mask wearing. The habitual use of masks was assessed in the participant's most frequently visited indoor space and public transport using the self-report habit index. The principal component analysis with varimax rotation revealed distinct habitual characteristics. Among the 2640 participants surveyed from 6 to 9 February 2023, only 4.9% reported not wearing masks at all. Conformity to social norms was the most important reason for masks. Participants exhibited a slightly higher degree of habituation towards mask wearing on public transport compared to indoor spaces. The mask-wearing rate was higher in females than in males, and no significant difference was identified by age group. Daily mask wearing in indoor spaces was characterized by two traits (automaticity and behavioral frequency). A high mask-wearing frequency has been maintained in Japan during the social reopening transition period. Mask wearing has become a part of daily habit, especially on public transport, largely driven by automatic and frequent practice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Hiroshi Nishiura
- Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan; (T.L.); (M.F.); (K.H.); (A.A.)
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Tokson M, Rahrig H, Green JD. Disease-preventive behaviors and subjective well-being in the COVID-19 pandemic. BMC Psychol 2023; 11:288. [PMID: 37749642 PMCID: PMC10521491 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-023-01316-x] [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: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Safety precautions and activity restrictions were common in the early, pre-vaccine phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. We hypothesized that higher levels of participation in potentially risky social and other activities would be associated with greater life satisfaction and perceived meaning in life. At the same time, prosocial COVID-preventive activities such as mask wearing should enhance life satisfaction. METHOD We assessed the impact of COVID-preventive behaviors on psychological well-being in October 2020. A nationally representative sample of U.S. adults (n = 831) completed a demographic questionnaire, a COVID-related behaviors questionnaire, a Cantril's Ladder item, and the Multidimensional Existential Meaning Scale. Two hierarchical linear models were used to examine the potential impact of COVID-preventive behaviors on life satisfaction and meaning in life while accounting for the influence of demographic factors. RESULTS The study revealed significant positive relationships between COVID-preventive behaviors and subjective well-being. Wearing a mask was significantly associated with higher life satisfaction, while maintaining social distancing of six feet and avoiding large groups were significantly associated with higher perceived meaning in life. Social activities including dining at restaurants and visiting friends and family were also significantly associated with higher life satisfaction and meaning in life, respectively. CONCLUSION The study's findings support the conclusion that disease prevention measures such as social distancing and mask wearing do not reduce, and may enhance, subjective well-being during a pandemic. Utilizing the unique context of the COVID-19 pandemic to examine relationships between behavior and subjective well-being, the study also indicates that shallow or medium-depth social activities are likely to be more central to life satisfaction, whereas narrower, deeper social interactions with friends and family are more important to perceived meaning in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Tokson
- S.J. Quinney College of Law, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
| | - Hadley Rahrig
- Psychology Department, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Jeffrey D Green
- Psychology Department, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
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Lertsakulbunlue S, Kittisarapong P, Pikulkaew S, Pusayapaibul P, Tangtongsoonthorn A, Wichaiboon C, Amornchatchawankul F, Marsook S, Mahaisawariya S, Subwongcharoen N, Petcharat P, Luksanasup B, Lortharaprasert T, Tieantanyatip B, Kantiwong A, Jongcherdchootrakul K. What Sustains Mask-Wearing Behavior among Elders in a Rural Community in the Post-COVID-19 Era: An Exploratory Mixed-Methods Study. Behav Sci (Basel) 2023; 13:678. [PMID: 37622818 PMCID: PMC10451204 DOI: 10.3390/bs13080678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The current study investigates the factors influencing face-mask-wearing practices among elderly individuals in rural Thailand. A mixed-methods approach was employed, involving qualitative interviews with 15 elderly participants and a subsequent survey of 201 elders. Seven subthemes were identified, including the perceived benefits of mask-wearing, the perceived threat of COVID-19, mask-wearing enhancing attractiveness and self-confidence, social norms, misconceptions about COVID-19 prevention tools, perceived barriers to mask-wearing, and resources to afford face masks. The developed themes, codes, and quotes were utilized for creating a questionnaire. The survey revealed the adherence of 81.1% of the participants to mask-wearing. Structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis demonstrated that motivation, comprising (1) the perceived threat of COVID-19, (2) alternative threats aside from COVID-19, and (3) the perceived benefits of a face mask strongly affected mask-wearing practices (β = 0.68, p < 0.001) and the willingness to wear a face mask (β = 0.61, p < 0.001). Social norms had a negative direct effect on the perceived barrier (β = -0.48, p < 0.001) and a positive direct effect on mask-wearing practices (β = 0.25, p = 0.001). This study highlights that motivation and social norms play pivotal roles in sustaining mask-wearing behavior among rural elderly populations. Encouraging local cooperative actions through community rules could initiate behavioral changes within the community. These findings contribute to the understanding of factors influencing mask-wearing and provide insights into designing effective interventions to promote mask-wearing among elderly individuals in rural areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sethapong Lertsakulbunlue
- Department of Pharmacology, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (S.L.); (A.K.)
| | - Pinyada Kittisarapong
- Medical Cadet, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (P.K.); (S.P.); (P.P.); (A.T.); (C.W.); (F.A.); (S.M.); (S.M.); (N.S.); (P.P.); (B.L.); (T.L.); (B.T.)
| | - Sirikorn Pikulkaew
- Medical Cadet, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (P.K.); (S.P.); (P.P.); (A.T.); (C.W.); (F.A.); (S.M.); (S.M.); (N.S.); (P.P.); (B.L.); (T.L.); (B.T.)
| | - Pree Pusayapaibul
- Medical Cadet, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (P.K.); (S.P.); (P.P.); (A.T.); (C.W.); (F.A.); (S.M.); (S.M.); (N.S.); (P.P.); (B.L.); (T.L.); (B.T.)
| | - Apisit Tangtongsoonthorn
- Medical Cadet, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (P.K.); (S.P.); (P.P.); (A.T.); (C.W.); (F.A.); (S.M.); (S.M.); (N.S.); (P.P.); (B.L.); (T.L.); (B.T.)
| | - Chanunpisut Wichaiboon
- Medical Cadet, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (P.K.); (S.P.); (P.P.); (A.T.); (C.W.); (F.A.); (S.M.); (S.M.); (N.S.); (P.P.); (B.L.); (T.L.); (B.T.)
| | - Fasai Amornchatchawankul
- Medical Cadet, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (P.K.); (S.P.); (P.P.); (A.T.); (C.W.); (F.A.); (S.M.); (S.M.); (N.S.); (P.P.); (B.L.); (T.L.); (B.T.)
| | - Suranuch Marsook
- Medical Cadet, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (P.K.); (S.P.); (P.P.); (A.T.); (C.W.); (F.A.); (S.M.); (S.M.); (N.S.); (P.P.); (B.L.); (T.L.); (B.T.)
| | - Supakrit Mahaisawariya
- Medical Cadet, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (P.K.); (S.P.); (P.P.); (A.T.); (C.W.); (F.A.); (S.M.); (S.M.); (N.S.); (P.P.); (B.L.); (T.L.); (B.T.)
| | - Nattasit Subwongcharoen
- Medical Cadet, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (P.K.); (S.P.); (P.P.); (A.T.); (C.W.); (F.A.); (S.M.); (S.M.); (N.S.); (P.P.); (B.L.); (T.L.); (B.T.)
| | - Phitchayut Petcharat
- Medical Cadet, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (P.K.); (S.P.); (P.P.); (A.T.); (C.W.); (F.A.); (S.M.); (S.M.); (N.S.); (P.P.); (B.L.); (T.L.); (B.T.)
| | - Bannawit Luksanasup
- Medical Cadet, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (P.K.); (S.P.); (P.P.); (A.T.); (C.W.); (F.A.); (S.M.); (S.M.); (N.S.); (P.P.); (B.L.); (T.L.); (B.T.)
| | - Thakornphong Lortharaprasert
- Medical Cadet, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (P.K.); (S.P.); (P.P.); (A.T.); (C.W.); (F.A.); (S.M.); (S.M.); (N.S.); (P.P.); (B.L.); (T.L.); (B.T.)
| | - Bavorn Tieantanyatip
- Medical Cadet, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (P.K.); (S.P.); (P.P.); (A.T.); (C.W.); (F.A.); (S.M.); (S.M.); (N.S.); (P.P.); (B.L.); (T.L.); (B.T.)
| | - Anupong Kantiwong
- Department of Pharmacology, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (S.L.); (A.K.)
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Chisale MRO, Sinyiza FW, Kaseka PU, Chimbatata CS, Mbakaya BC, Wu TSJ, Nyambalo BW, Chauma-Mwale A, Chilima B, Yu KLJ, Kayira AB. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Reinfection Rates in Malawi: A Possible Tool to Guide Vaccine Prioritisation and Immunisation Policies. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:1185. [PMID: 37515002 PMCID: PMC10383452 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11071185] [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: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
As the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic continues, reports indicate that the global vaccination rate is still far below the target. Understanding the levels of reinfection may help refocus and inform policymakers on vaccination. This retrospective study in Malawi included individuals and patients who tested for COVID-19 infections via reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rt-PCR) from the data at the Public Health Institute of Malawi (PHIM). We included all data in the national line list from April 2020 to March 2022. Upon review of 47,032 records, 45,486 were included with a reported 82 (0.18) reinfection representing a rate of 0.55 (95% CI: 0.44-0.68) per 100,000 person-days of follow-up. Most reinfections occurred in the first 90 to 200 days following the initial infection, and the median time to reinfection was 175 days (IQR: 150-314), with a range of 90-563 days. The risk of reinfection was highest in the immediate 3 to 6 months following the initial infection and declined substantially after that, and age demonstrated a significant association with reinfection. Estimating the burden of SARS-CoV-2 reinfections, a specific endurance of the immunity naturally gained, and the role played by risk factors in reinfections is relevant for identifying strategies to prioritise vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Master R O Chisale
- Faculty of Sciences, Technology and Innovations, Biological Sciences, Mzuzu University, P/Bag 201 Luwinga, Mzuzu, Malawi
- Research Department, Luke International, Mzuzu P.O. Box 1088, Malawi
| | | | - Paul Uchizi Kaseka
- Mzuzu Central Hospital, Ministry of Health, P/Bag 209 Luwinga, Mzuzu, Malawi
| | | | | | - Tsung-Shu Joseph Wu
- Research Department, Luke International, Mzuzu P.O. Box 1088, Malawi
- Overseas Department, Pingtung Christian Hospital, No. 60, Da-lien Rd., Pingtung City 900, Taiwan
| | | | - Annie Chauma-Mwale
- Public Health Institute of Malawi, Ministry of Health, Lilongwe 00265, Malawi
| | - Ben Chilima
- Public Health Institute of Malawi, Ministry of Health, Lilongwe 00265, Malawi
| | - Kwong-Leung Joseph Yu
- Research Department, Luke International, Mzuzu P.O. Box 1088, Malawi
- Overseas Department, Pingtung Christian Hospital, No. 60, Da-lien Rd., Pingtung City 900, Taiwan
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Harjani T, He H, Chao MM. The Moral Foundations of Vaccine Passports. JOURNAL OF BUSINESS ETHICS : JBE 2023:1-29. [PMID: 37359793 PMCID: PMC10200013 DOI: 10.1007/s10551-023-05427-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
The debate around vaccine passports has been polarising and controversial. Although the measure allows businesses to resume in-person operations and enables transitioning out of lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some have expressed concerns about liberty violations and discrimination. Understanding the splintered viewpoints can aid businesses in communicating such measures to employees and consumers. We conceptualise the business implementation of vaccine passports as a moral decision rooted in individual values that influence reasoning and emotional reaction. We surveyed support for vaccine passports on a nationally representative sample in the United Kingdom in 2021: April (n = 349), May (n = 328), and July (n = 311). Drawing on the Moral Foundations Theory-binding (loyalty, authority, and sanctity), individualising (fairness and harm), and liberty values-we find that individualising values are a positive predictor and liberty values a negative predictor of support for passports, suggesting adoption hinges on addressing liberty concerns. Longitudinal analysis examining the trajectory of change in support over time finds that individualising foundations positively predict changes in utilitarian and deontological reasoning over time. In contrast, a fall in anger over time predicts increased support towards vaccine passports. Our study can inform business and policy communication strategies of existing vaccine passports, general vaccine mandates, and similar measures in future pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trisha Harjani
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EB UK
| | - Hongwei He
- Alliance Manchester Business School, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9SS UK
| | - Melody Manchi Chao
- Department of Management, School of Business and Management, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong S.A.R
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Yamamura E, Kohsaka Y, Tsutsui Y, Ohtake F. Association between the COVID-19 Vaccine and Preventive Behaviors: Panel Data Analysis from Japan. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:vaccines11040810. [PMID: 37112722 PMCID: PMC10145704 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11040810] [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: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine is key to reducing the probability of contracting COVID-19. The vaccine is generally known to prevent severe illness, death, and hospitalization as a result of the disease and for considerably reduce COVID-19 infection risk. Accordingly, this might significantly change an individual's perceived risk of altering everyday behaviors. For instance, the proliferation of vaccination is anticipated to reduce preventive behaviors such as staying at home, handwashing, and wearing a mask. We corresponded with the same individuals monthly for 18 months from March 2020 (early stage of COVID-19) to September 2021 in Japan to independently construct large sample panel data (N = 54,007), with a participation rate of 54.7%. We used a fixed effects model, controlling for key confounders, to determine whether vaccination was associated with a change in preventive behaviors. The major findings are as follows. Contrary to the prediction, (1) based on the whole sample, being vaccinated against COVID-19 led people to stay at home; however, it did not change the habit of handwashing and wearing a mask. Especially after the second shot, respondents were likelier to stay at home by 0.107 (95% CIs: 0.059-0.154) points on a 5-point scale compared to before the vaccination. Dividing the entire sample into young and old, (2) those aged ≤ 40 years were more likely to go out after being vaccinated, and (3) people over 40 years of age were more likely to stay at home (similar to the first result). Preventive behaviors impact all individuals during the current pandemic. Informal social norms motivate people to increase or maintain preventive behaviors even after being vaccinated in societies where these behaviors are not enforced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eiji Yamamura
- Department of Economics, Seinan Gakuin University, Fukuoka 814-8511, Japan
| | - Youki Kohsaka
- Department of Management Information, Kyoto College of Economics, Kyoto 610-1195, Japan
| | - Yoshiro Tsutsui
- Faculty of Social Relations, Kyoto Bunkyo University, Kyoto 611-0041, Japan
| | - Fumio Ohtake
- Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
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10
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Barbieri V, Wiedermann CJ, Lombardo S, Plagg B, Piccoliori G, Gärtner T, Engl A. Age-Related Associations of Altruism with Attitudes towards COVID-19 and Vaccination: A Representative Survey in the North of Italy. Behav Sci (Basel) 2023; 13:bs13020188. [PMID: 36829417 PMCID: PMC9951972 DOI: 10.3390/bs13020188] [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: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND During the coronavirus pandemic, altruism has been linked to personal protective behavior, vaccine development, and vaccination intention. Studies of the moderating effects of age on altruism in pandemic preparedness have not yet been conducted. METHODS A representative cross-sectional survey of residents of South Tyrol, Italy, was conducted in March 2021. Among the participants, 1169 were aged 18-69 years, and 257 were aged ≥ 70 years. The questionnaire collected information on sociodemographic and individual characteristics, including comorbidities, COVID-19-related experiences, trust in information, the likelihood of accepting the national vaccination plan, and altruism. A linear regression analysis was performed. RESULTS Among 1426 participants, the median altruism sum score was 24 (interquartile range, 20-26). In the participant group aged ≥ 70 years, the median altruism score was significantly higher than that in the younger group. Participants living in a single household were significantly less altruistic than other participants, while participants working in the health sector, living in a household at risk from coronavirus disease 2019, or suffering from a chronic disease were found to be more altruistic. Altruism showed significant positive correlations with age and agreement with the national vaccination plan and was negatively correlated with well-being. Trust in institutions was positively correlated with altruism only in the younger age group but not in the elderly. Linear regression models confirmed female gender and identified trust in institutions as a positive predictor of altruism. In the younger age group, increased well-being and restricted individual sports activities were associated with reduced altruism, whereas support of compulsory self-isolation after contact with a SARS-CoV-2-positive person and handwashing as a personal protective measure were positively associated. CONCLUSION Altruism is associated with various predictors of pandemic behavior and traits. The strengths of the identified positive and negative correlations support the modifying role of age in the effects of altruism on pandemic attitudes. Interventions that are likely to enhance altruism to improve pandemic preparedness in certain age groups require further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verena Barbieri
- Institute of General Practice and Public Health, Claudiana College of Health Professions, 39100 Bolzano, BZ, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Christian J. Wiedermann
- Institute of General Practice and Public Health, Claudiana College of Health Professions, 39100 Bolzano, BZ, Italy
- Department of Public Health, Medical Decision Making and Health Technology Assessment, University of Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology, 6060 Hall, Austria
| | - Stefano Lombardo
- Provincial Institute for Statistics of the Autonomous Province of Bolzano—South Tyrol (ASTAT), 39100 Bolzano, BZ, Italy
| | - Barbara Plagg
- Institute of General Practice and Public Health, Claudiana College of Health Professions, 39100 Bolzano, BZ, Italy
- Faculty of Education, Free University of Bolzano, 39100 Bolzano, BZ, Italy
| | - Giuliano Piccoliori
- Institute of General Practice and Public Health, Claudiana College of Health Professions, 39100 Bolzano, BZ, Italy
| | - Timon Gärtner
- Provincial Institute for Statistics of the Autonomous Province of Bolzano—South Tyrol (ASTAT), 39100 Bolzano, BZ, Italy
| | - Adolf Engl
- Institute of General Practice and Public Health, Claudiana College of Health Professions, 39100 Bolzano, BZ, Italy
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11
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Shepherd JL, Rippon D. The impact of briefly observing faces in opaque facial masks on emotion recognition and empathic concern. Q J Exp Psychol (Hove) 2023; 76:404-418. [PMID: 35319298 PMCID: PMC9896299 DOI: 10.1177/17470218221092590] [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] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Since the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 in 2019, there have been global public health initiatives that have advocated for the community use of face masks to reduce spread of the virus. Although the community use of facial coverings has been deemed essential for public health, there have been calls for enquiries to ascertain how face masks may impact non-verbal methods of communication. This study aimed to ascertain how the brief observations of faces in opaque facial coverings could impact facial emotion recognition. It was also an aim to ascertain if there was an association between the levels of empathic concern and facial emotion recognition when viewing masked faces. An opportunity sample of 199 participants, who resided in the United Kingdom, were randomly assigned to briefly observe either masked (n = 102) or unmasked (n = 97) faces. Participants in both conditions were required to view a series of facial expressions, from the Radboud Faces Database, with models conveying the emotional states of anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness, and surprised. Each face was presented to participants for a period of 250 ms in the masked and unmasked conditions. A 6 (emotion type) x 2 (masked/unmasked condition) mixed ANOVA revealed that viewing masked faces significantly reduced facial emotion recognition of disgust, fear, happiness, sadness, and surprised. However, there were no differences in the success rate of recognising the emotional state of anger between the masked and unmasked conditions. Furthermore, higher levels of empathic concern were associated with greater success in facially recognising the emotional state of disgust. The results of this study suggest that significant reductions in emotion recognition, when viewing faces in opaque masks, can still be observed when people are exposed to facial stimuli for a brief period of time.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Daniel Rippon
- Daniel Rippon, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Northumberland Building, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 8ST, UK.
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12
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Kwon M, Yang W. Mask-Wearing Behaviors after Two Years of Wearing Masks Due to COVID-19 in Korea: A Cross-Sectional Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:14940. [PMID: 36429657 PMCID: PMC9691200 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192214940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
In Korea, wearing masks in public places has become the norm during the prolonged coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This cross-sectional study investigated the mask-wearing behavior of Koreans (n = 433) via online mode living in Seoul and Gwangju after wearing a mask in public spaces for two years due to COVID-19. The respondents selected their face masks based on season, gender, age, occupation, mask-wearing hours, mask filter performance, mask shape, and mask color. The general discomfort caused by wearing a mask was divided into physical and speech discomfort, and it was not correlated with anxiety when not wearing a face mask. Speech discomfort caused by wearing a mask was correlated with general discomfort, clear speech, vocal pain, anxiety, and only-indoor mask-off plans. Anxiety when not wearing a mask appeared to affect both indoor and outdoor mask-off plans. The more uncomfortable and less anxious respondents were when not wearing a mask, the sooner they wanted to discontinue wearing masks indoors and outdoors. It is expected that the use of masks will continue in the future and that there may be differences in the place and time of use of masks in Korea and around the world due to new infectious diseases and fine dust. Facial masks can be worn more comfortably and conveniently if the discomfort and anxiety of wearing a mask are improved by considering various behaviors when wearing a mask in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miji Kwon
- Department of Speech-Language Rehabilitation & Counseling, Gwangju University, Gwangju 61743, Korea
| | - Wonyoung Yang
- Division of Architecture, Gwangju University, Gwangju 61743, Korea
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13
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Kwon M, Jang EM, Yang W. Mask-Wearing Perception of Preschool Children in Korea during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph191811443. [PMID: 36141716 PMCID: PMC9516996 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191811443] [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: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, wearing a mask has become a daily routine in Korea over the last two years. This study aims to investigate the mask-wearing perception of preschoolers (ages 4-6). The questionnaire comprised 17 yes-no closed-ended questions and two open-ended questions, and interviews of the children were conducted from January to February 2022, 15 months after mandatory mask wearing. Results showed that children were aware of the need to wear a mask to protect themselves and others from the coronavirus, and they perceived it as necessary and a good thing. Most children responded that they did not feel uncomfortable wearing a mask at preschool. This perception was thought to be influenced by the caregivers' perceptions of the mask in Korea. The way in which 4-5-year-olds perceived the mask differed from the way 6-year-olds did. Children aged between four and five seemed to perceive the mask as a physical self, while children aged six did not. As children who have experienced COVID-19 are growing up, attention is being focused on how the experience of wearing a mask affects their early childhood development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miji Kwon
- Department of Speech-Language Rehabilitation & Counseling, Gwangju University, Gwangju 61743, Korea
| | - Eun-Mi Jang
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Daegu Cyber University, Gyeongsan 38453, Korea
| | - Wonyoung Yang
- Division of Architecture, Gwangju University, Gwangju 61743, Korea
- Correspondence:
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14
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Wismans A, van der Zwan P, Wennberg K, Franken I, Mukerjee J, Baptista R, Marín JB, Burke A, Dejardin M, Janssen F, Letina S, Millán JM, Santarelli E, Torrès O, Thurik R. Face mask use during the COVID-19 pandemic: how risk perception, experience with COVID-19, and attitude towards government interact with country-wide policy stringency. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:1622. [PMID: 36028876 PMCID: PMC9412789 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-13632-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, governments imposed numerous regulations to protect public health, particularly the (mandatory) use of face masks. However, the appropriateness and effectiveness of face mask regulations have been widely discussed, as is apparent from the divergent measures taken across and within countries over time, including mandating, recommending, and discouraging their use. In this study, we analyse how country-level policy stringency and individual-level predictors associate with face mask use during the early stages of the global COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD First, we study how (self and other-related) risk perception, (direct and indirect) experience with COVID-19, attitude towards government and policy stringency shape face mask use. Second, we study whether there is an interaction between policy stringency and the individual-level variables. We conduct multilevel analyses exploiting variation in face mask regulations across countries and using data from approximately 7000 students collected in the beginning of the pandemic (weeks 17 through 19, 2020). RESULTS We show that policy stringency is strongly positively associated with face mask use. We find a positive association between self-related risk perception and mask use, but no relationship of mask use with experience with COVID-19 and attitudes towards government. However, in the interaction analyses, we find that government trust and perceived clarity of communication moderate the link between stringency and mask use, with positive government perceptions relating to higher use in countries with regulations and to lower use in countries without regulations. CONCLUSIONS We highlight that those countries that aim for widespread use of face masks should set strict measures, stress self-related risks of COVID-19, and use clear communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annelot Wismans
- Department of Applied Economics, Erasmus School of Economics, Erasmus University Rotterdam, PO Box 1738, 3000DR, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
- The Erasmus University Rotterdam Institute for Behavior and Biology (EURIBEB), P.O. Box 1738, 3000DR, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Peter van der Zwan
- Department of Business Studies, Institute of Tax Law and Economics, Leiden Law School, Leiden University, 2311ES, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Karl Wennberg
- Institute for Analytical Sociology, Linköping University, SE-601 74, Norrköping, Sweden
- Stockholm School of Economics, PO Box 6501, SE-113 83, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ingmar Franken
- The Erasmus University Rotterdam Institute for Behavior and Biology (EURIBEB), P.O. Box 1738, 3000DR, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Psychology, Education & Child Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam, PO Box 1738, 3000DR, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jinia Mukerjee
- Montpellier Business School, CEDEX 4, 2300 Avenue des Moulins, 34080, Montpellier, France
| | - Rui Baptista
- CEG-IST, Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, 1049-001, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Jorge Barrientos Marín
- Department of Economics, University of Antioquia, PO Box 1228, Calle 70 52-21, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Andrew Burke
- Trinity Business School, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, D02 H308, Ireland
| | - Marcus Dejardin
- Université catholique de Louvain, B-1348, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
- Université de Namur, B-5000, Namur, Belgium
| | - Frank Janssen
- Université catholique de Louvain, B-1348, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Srebrenka Letina
- Institute for Analytical Sociology, Linköping University, SE-601 74, Norrköping, Sweden
- University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | | | - Enrico Santarelli
- Department of Economics, University of Bologna, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Olivier Torrès
- Montpellier Business School, CEDEX 4, 2300 Avenue des Moulins, 34080, Montpellier, France
- University of Montpellier, 34000, Montpellier, France
| | - Roy Thurik
- Department of Applied Economics, Erasmus School of Economics, Erasmus University Rotterdam, PO Box 1738, 3000DR, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- The Erasmus University Rotterdam Institute for Behavior and Biology (EURIBEB), P.O. Box 1738, 3000DR, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Montpellier Business School, CEDEX 4, 2300 Avenue des Moulins, 34080, Montpellier, France
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15
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He Y, Zhu J, Chen X, Mu Y. Trait Empathy Modulates Patterns of Personal and Social Emotions During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Front Psychol 2022; 13:893328. [PMID: 35756252 PMCID: PMC9231589 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.893328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused profound consequences on people's personal and social feelings worldwide. However, little is known about whether individual differences in empathy, a prosocial trait, may affect the emotional feelings under such threat. To address this, we measured 345 Chinese participants' personal emotions (e.g., active, nervous), social emotions (i.e., fearful and empathetic feelings about various social groups), and their empathy traits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using the representational similarity analysis (RSA), we calculated the pattern similarity of personal emotions and found the similarity between the positive and negative emotions was less in the high vs. low empathy groups. In addition, people with high (vs. low) empathy traits were more likely to have fearful and sympathetic feelings about the disease-related people (i.e., depression patients, suspected COVID-19 patients, COVID-19 patients, flu patients, SARS patients, AIDS patients, schizophrenic patients) and showed more pattern dissimilarity in the two social feelings toward the disease-related people. These findings suggest a prominent role of trait empathy in modulating emotions across different domains, strengthening the polarization of personal emotions as well as enlarging social feelings toward a set of stigmatized groups when facing a pandemic threat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaji He
- CAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jiajia Zhu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xuhai Chen
- Key Laboratory of Behavior and Cognitive Psychology in Shaanxi Province, School of Psychology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an, China
| | - Yan Mu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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16
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Asri A, Asri V, Renerte B, Föllmi-Heusi F, Leuppi JD, Muser J, Nüesch R, Schuler D, Fischbacher U. Which hospital workers do (not) want the jab? Behavioral correlates of COVID-19 vaccine willingness among employees of Swiss hospitals. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0268775. [PMID: 35617200 PMCID: PMC9135270 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0268775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In many countries, the current vaccination rates are stagnating, to the extent that vaccine hesitancy—the delay or refusal to take recommended vaccinations—forms a major obstacle to ending the COVID-19 pandemic. This tendency is particularly concerning when observed among healthcare workers who are opinion leaders on medical matters for their patients and peers. Our study surveys 965 employees of two large Swiss hospitals and profiles vaccine-hesitant hospital employees using not only socio-demographic characteristics, but also a comprehensive set of standard behavioral preference measures: (i) Big-5 personality traits, (ii) risk-, time- and social preferences, and (iii) perceived prevailing social norms. Using multinomial probit models and linear probability models, we find that vaccine-hesitant hospital employees are less patient and less likely to perceive vaccination as the prevailing social norm—in addition to replicating previously published socio-demographic results. Our findings are robust to a range of model specifications, as well as individual and situational covariates. Our study thus offers actionable policy implications for tailoring public-health communications to vaccine-hesitant hospital employees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankush Asri
- University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
- Thurgau Institute of Economics, Kreuzlingen, Switzerland
| | - Viola Asri
- University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
- Thurgau Institute of Economics, Kreuzlingen, Switzerland
| | - Baiba Renerte
- University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
- Thurgau Institute of Economics, Kreuzlingen, Switzerland
- University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Franziska Föllmi-Heusi
- Spital Schwyz, Schwyz, Switzerland
- Swiss Institute for International Economics and Applied Economic Research, University of St.Gallen, St.Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Joerg D. Leuppi
- Kantonsspital Baselland, Liestal, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Reto Nüesch
- Spital Schwyz, Schwyz, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Dominik Schuler
- Spital Schwyz, Schwyz, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Urs Fischbacher
- University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
- Thurgau Institute of Economics, Kreuzlingen, Switzerland
- * E-mail:
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17
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Schönweitz F, Eichinger J, Kuiper JML, Ongolly F, Spahl W, Prainsack B, Zimmermann BM. The Social Meanings of Artifacts: Face Masks in the COVID-19 Pandemic. Front Public Health 2022; 10:829904. [PMID: 35493352 PMCID: PMC9049272 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.829904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, research has explored various aspects of face mask use. While most of the research explores their effectiveness to prevent the spread of the virus, a growing body of literature has found that using face masks also has social meaning. But what social meaning does it have, and how does this meaning express itself in people's practice? Based on 413 qualitative interviews with residents in five European countries (Austria, Belgium, Germany, Ireland, and Switzerland), we found that the meanings of face masks have changed drastically during the first months of the pandemic. While in spring 2020 people wearing them had to fear stigmatization, in autumn of 2020 not wearing masks was more likely to be stigmatized. Throughout the first year of the pandemic, we found that mask wearing had multiple and partly seemingly contradictory meanings for people. They were perceived as obstacles for non-verbal communication, but also a way to affirm friendships and maintain social contacts. They also signaled specific moral or political stances on the side of face mask wearers and non-wearers alike, expressed their belonging to certain communities, or articulated concern. In sum, our findings show how face masks serve as scripts for people to navigate their lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. We conclude that public and political discussions concerning face masks should include not only evidence on the epidemiological and infectiological effects of face masks, but also on their social meanings and their social effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Schönweitz
- Institute of History and Ethics in Medicine, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Johanna Eichinger
- Institute of History and Ethics in Medicine, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Department of Political Science, Centre for the Study of Contemporary Solidarity, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Fernandos Ongolly
- Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Wanda Spahl
- Centre for Sociological Research, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Barbara Prainsack
- Centre for Sociological Research, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- *Correspondence: Barbara Prainsack
| | - Bettina M. Zimmermann
- Institute of History and Ethics in Medicine, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Department of Political Science, Centre for the Study of Contemporary Solidarity, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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18
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Krishna A, Rodrigues J, Mitschke V, Eder AB. Self-reported mask-related worrying reduces relative avoidance bias toward unmasked faces in individuals with low Covid19 anxiety syndrome. Cogn Res Princ Implic 2021; 6:75. [PMID: 34806154 PMCID: PMC8606225 DOI: 10.1186/s41235-021-00344-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Facial masks have become and may remain ubiquitous. Though important for preventing infection, they may also serve as a reminder of the risks of disease. Thus, they may either act as cues for threat, priming avoidance-related behavior, or as cues for a safe interaction, priming social approach. To distinguish between these possibilities, we assessed implicit and explicit evaluations of masked individuals as well as avoidance bias toward relatively unsafe interactions with unmasked individuals in an approach-avoidance task in an online study. We further assessed Covid19 anxiety and specific attitudes toward mask-wearing, including mask effectiveness and desirability, hindrance of communication from masks, aesthetic appeal of masks, and mask-related worrying. Across one sample of younger (18-35 years, N = 147) and one of older adults (60+ years, N = 150), we found neither an average approach nor avoidance bias toward mask-wearing compared to unmasked individuals in the indirect behavior measurement task. However, across the combined sample, self-reported mask-related worrying correlated with reduced avoidance tendencies toward unmasked individuals when Covid19 anxiety was low, but not when it was high. This relationship was specific to avoidance tendencies and was not observed in respect to explicit or implicit preference for mask-wearing individuals. We conclude that unsafe interaction styles may be reduced by targeting mask-related worrying with public interventions, in particular for populations that otherwise have low generalized Covid19 anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anand Krishna
- Lehrstuhl Für Psychologie II, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Röntgenring 10, 97070, Würzburg, Germany.
| | - Johannes Rodrigues
- Lehrstuhl Für Psychologie II, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Röntgenring 10, 97070, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Vanessa Mitschke
- Lehrstuhl Für Psychologie II, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Röntgenring 10, 97070, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Andreas B Eder
- Lehrstuhl Für Psychologie II, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Röntgenring 10, 97070, Würzburg, Germany
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