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Cao B, Wang L. When Epidemic Outbreaks Meet Social Media: Collective Illness Narratives on WeChat During COVID-19 Omicron Infection in China. HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2024; 39:2211-2224. [PMID: 37731170 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2023.2259695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
This study investigates the landscape of collective illness narratives on social media in China during December 2022 and January 2023, when nearly one billion people were infected with the COVID-19 Omicron virus. By analyzing 655 private social media posts, conducting in-depth interviews with 50 individuals, and organizing 6 focus group discussions with 24 participants, this study explores how COVID-19 Omicron infection became normalized and widely discussed on private social media platforms, notably WeChat Moments. This study unveils distinct features that arise when illness narratives and social media intersect and reveals how people exercised moral imagination and depathologized perception in social media illness narratives. The article provides narrative dynamics during the pandemic in a collective manner and sheds light on the reshaping of illness narratives in the era of social media, offering insights for future pandemic responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bolin Cao
- School of Media and Communication, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, People's Republic of China
| | - Lei Wang
- State Key Lab Media Convergence of Media Convergence and Communication, Internet Information Research Institution, Communication University of China, Beijing, People's Republic of China
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2
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Rominger C, Fink A, Perchtold-Stefan CM. Experiencing more meaningful coincidences is associated with more real-life creativity? Insights from three empirical studies. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0300121. [PMID: 38787888 PMCID: PMC11125470 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Literature suggests a link between creativity and the perception of meaningful patterns in random arrangements, which is coined apophenia, patternicity, synchronicity, or the experience of meaningful coincidences. However, empirical research did not establish a clear link between real-life creativity and the experience of meaningful coincidences. In this three-study approach, we consistently found a connection between the experience of meaningful coincidences and creative activities as well as creative achievements. However, we did not obtain a consistent link with openness to experience or with peoples' creative potential. By applying an internet daily diary approach, we found that the experience of meaningful coincidences fluctuates from day to day and that the number of perceived coincidences is associated with positive and negative affect. A third preregistered study showed that positive and negative affect might not serve as a strong mechanism that mediates the link between meaningful coincidences and real-life creative activities. We need further research to explore the reason for this robust link between meaningful coincidences and real-life creativity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andreas Fink
- Department of Psychology, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
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Karabin M, Kyröläinen AJ, Kuperman V. Increase in Linguistic Complexity in Older Adults During COVID-19. Exp Aging Res 2024; 50:312-330. [PMID: 36892044 DOI: 10.1080/0361073x.2022.2163831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 03/10/2023]
Abstract
The reported psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and related public health measures included a decline in cognitive functioning in older adults. Cognitive functioning is known to correlate with the lexical and syntactic complexity of an individual's linguistic productions. We examined written narratives from the CoSoWELL corpus (v 1.0), collected from over 1,000 U.S. and Canadian older adults (55+ y.o.) before and during the first year of the pandemic. We expected a decrease in the linguistic complexity of the narratives, given the oft-reported reduction in cognitive functioning associated with COVID-19. Contrary to this expectation, all measures of linguistic complexity showed a steady increase from the pre-pandemic level throughout the first year of the global lockdown. We discuss possible reasons for this boost in light of existing theories of cognition and offer a speculative link between the finding and reports of increased creativity during the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Karabin
- Department of Linguistics & Languages, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | | | - Victor Kuperman
- Department of Linguistics & Languages, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
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4
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Wolcott MD, McLaughlin JE. Exploring user experience (UX) research methods in health professions education. CURRENTS IN PHARMACY TEACHING & LEARNING 2024; 16:144-149. [PMID: 38158330 DOI: 10.1016/j.cptl.2023.12.010] [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: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
OUR ISSUE Researchers often design interventions or experiences to meet the needs of a specific user. However, the user's perspective is often excluded in the process, which can minimize effectiveness due to a lack of understanding about the user, their perspective, and/or their needs. User experience (UX) research methods offer an opportunity to capture additional information about the user that can inform the design of these solutions. METHODOLOGICAL LITERATURE REVIEW UX research became prominent during the 1990s to describe the complexity of human interactions with technological solutions. UX research methods emerged in other disciplines as strategies for describing user perspectives, needs, challenges, and potential impact of proposed solutions-these may be useful in health professions education research. OUR RECOMMENDATIONS AND THEIR APPLICATIONS Those interested in UX research methods should define the user, establish focused research questions, and select applicable strategies cognizant of time and resource constraints. UX research often requires a clear outline of research activities, how they address the questions, and techniques to engage representative users for data collection. Researchers can optimize data collection by creating inclusive spaces that emphasize active listening. Researchers should compile insights regularly and remember UX research emphasizes an iterative approach to design. POTENTIAL IMPACT UX research can support deeper insights into users, their perspectives, their needs, and offers opportunities to co-construct solutions with their experiences in mind. These methods may help educators design impactful experiences that better achieve targeted outcomes in collaboration with their users (e.g., learners, faculty, teams).
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael D Wolcott
- Workman School of Dental Medicine, High Point University, One University Parkway, High Point, NC 27268, United States; Eshelman School of Pharmacy, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 301 Pharmacy Lane - Beard Hall 321, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States.
| | - Jacqueline E McLaughlin
- Eshelman School of Pharmacy, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 301 Pharmacy Lane - Beard Hall 321, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States.
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De Lorenzo A, Lattke LS, Rabaglietti E. Creativity and resilience: a mini-review on post-pandemic resources for adolescents and young adults. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1117539. [PMID: 37293620 PMCID: PMC10244575 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1117539] [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: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Two years after the outbreak of the pandemic, several studies look at the consequences for the well-being and mental health of young people. In particular, creativity and resilience are cited in the scientific literature as resources that promote this well-being in adolescents and young adults. Purpose This mini-literature review was created with the aim of examining how many articles have explored the relationship between creativity and resilience in adolescents and young adults since the onset of the pandemic. Methods Particular attention was paid to how many of the articles actually related to the consequences of the pandemic, in which country they were published, their target population, and the models, instruments and variables used to analyze them. Results Only 4 articles emerged from the screening, of which only one was actually related to pandemic consequences. All articles were published in Asian countries with a target group of university students. Three of the articles used mediation models to examine the relationship between resilience as an independent variable and creativity as a dependent variable. All articles used self-assessment instruments for creativity and resilience, both at the individual and group level. Significance This mini-review offers us the opportunity to reflect on the lack of studies that have addressed the issue of youth resources in the form of creativity and resilience since the beginning of the pandemic. The results show us a still underdeveloped interest in creativity in the scientific literature, in contrast to what the media reports on the promotion of creativity in daily life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurelia De Lorenzo
- SE-CREA Research Group, Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
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Garlatti Costa G, Bortoluzzi G, Černe M. Can innovative work behaviour spur creativity while working remotely? The role of work–home conflict and social isolation. MANAGEMENT RESEARCH REVIEW 2022. [DOI: 10.1108/mrr-03-2022-0204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Purpose
During the COVID-19 pandemic, huge numbers of employees shifted to remote working, with various consequences for their family and working lives. This study aims to focus on the factors that affect their creativity while working from home. As individual creativity is shaped by context, the authors investigate the moderating role of the domestic environment on employees’ creative contributions while working remotely.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors base the arguments on the complexity perspective on innovative work behaviour (IWB) and consider innovation a recursive process in which innovative behaviour can inform, and not simply follow, subsequent creative acts. The sudden spur of the pandemic interrupted the natural recursiveness of the creativity–innovation process and allowed them to empirically investigate the direct and indirect effects that levels of pre-pandemic IWB had on individuals’ creative behaviour. The authors hypothesise that this relationship is moderated by two resource-conserving contextual factors: work–home conflict and a feeling of social isolation. The participants were 803 employees from several Italian corporations. The data were collected during the first lockdown period (April–May 2020).
Findings
The findings support the existence of a three-way interaction, suggesting that IWB affects further creative behaviours when both work–home conflict and social isolation are low.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that investigates what happened to employees’ creativity during the COVID-19 massive remote working situation. The results should be interpreted beyond the unique context because remote working will continue.
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Lee L, Ocepek MG. Documenting the fun: Studying artistic information-creating behavior using research diaries. LIBRARY & INFORMATION SCIENCE RESEARCH 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lisr.2022.101192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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Smith K, Pickering A, Bhattacharya J. The Creative Life: A Daily Diary Study of Creativity, Affect, and Well-Being in Creative Individuals. CREATIVITY RESEARCH JOURNAL 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/10400419.2022.2122371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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The COVID-19 Experience: Creativity as an Identity Attractor for Young People Facing the Developmental Challenges. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19158913. [PMID: 35897286 PMCID: PMC9331245 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19158913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
The study focuses on identifying the impacts of the COVID experience on young people and exploring whether, during the pandemic period, adolescents and young adults resorted to flexible and creative coping strategies, which may have served as resources. The participants consisted of 70 Italian freshmen (18 males and 52 females) aged 18 to 21, attending their first year of university. Adopting a narrative approach, we identified seven creativity functions and two interpretative factors, supporting the idea that creativity may have constituted a psychological resource for young people during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the findings suggest that creativity can be configured as an identity attractor. Implications and future research directions are discussed.
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Rominger C, Schwerdtfeger AR, Benedek M, Perchtold-Stefan CM, Fink A. Ecological Momentary Assessment of Creative Ideation. EUROPEAN PSYCHOLOGIST 2022. [DOI: 10.1027/1016-9040/a000471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Abstract. Creative ideas in daily life show substantial variation in quality. Yet, most studies investigate the creative ideation process in highly controlled laboratory contexts, which challenges the ecological validity of creativity research findings. In this article, we advocate the use of ambulatory assessments of creative ideation to gain deeper insight into the variability of ideation processes (between- and within-subjects) in everyday life. We demonstrate this approach by the example of the ambulatory battery of creativity (ABC), which constitutes a reliable and valid approach to assess divergent thinking ability in the verbal and figural domain in everyday life context. Furthermore, it differentiates between-person and within-person variation of creative ideation performance. The first part of this paper will shortly describe the general approach using ABC as an example. In the second part, we use the 7 C’s heuristic to explore applications and implications of this novel method for creativity research. We focus on four C’s with special relevance for ambulatory assessment: Creator, Creating, Context, and Curricula. To this end, we review the findings of strongly controlled laboratory studies and discuss and illustrate applications of the ambulatory assessment. We conclude that the assessment of creative ideation performance in the field might help move the spotlight of creative ideation research from the laboratory to more naturalistic settings. This would increase the ecological validity of creative ideation research and facilitate fresh or unprecedented perspectives on past and future questions on a person’s creative potential and its moment-to-moment fluctuation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Andreas Fink
- Department of Psychology, University of Graz, Austria
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11
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Galasinska K, Szymkow A. Enhanced Originality of Ideas in Women During Ovulation: A Within-Subject Design Study. Front Psychol 2022; 13:859108. [PMID: 35756251 PMCID: PMC9222335 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.859108] [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: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The signaling theory suggests that creativity may have evolved as a signal for mates. Indeed, its aesthetic value might not have been necessary for survival, but it could have helped to attract a mate, fostering childbearing. If we consider creativity as such a signal, we should expect it will be enhanced in the context related to sexual selection. This hypothesis was tested mainly for men. However, both men and women display physical and mental traits that can attract a mate. Previous studies showed that women can be more creative during their peak fertility. We advanced these findings in the present study, applying reliable measures of menstrual cycle phases (examining saliva and urine samples) and the highly recommended within-subject design. We also introduced and tested possible mediators of the effect. We found women’s ideas to be more original during ovulation compared to non-fertile phases of the ovulatory cycle. The results are discussed in the context of signaling theory and alternative explanations are considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Galasinska
- Center for Research on Biological Basis of Social Behavior, SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Szymkow
- Center for Research on Biological Basis of Social Behavior, SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Warsaw, Poland
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12
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Lopez-Persem A, Bieth T, Guiet S, Ovando-Tellez M, Volle E. Through Thick and Thin: Changes in Creativity During the First Lockdown of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Front Psychol 2022; 13:821550. [PMID: 35619782 PMCID: PMC9127054 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.821550] [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: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 took us by surprise. We all had to face the lockdown and pandemic that put us in a new context, changing our way of life, work conditions, and habits. Coping with such an unprecedented situation may have stimulated creativity. However, the situation also restricted our liberties and triggered health or psychological difficulties. We carried out an online survey (n = 380) to examine whether and how the COVID-19 related first lockdown period was associated with creativity changes in French speaking population. Despite a global negative subjective experience of the situation, participants reported that they were more creative during the lockdown than before. Positive changes were linked with more time availability, more motivation, or the need to solve a problem while negative changes were related to negative affective feelings or a lack of resources or opportunities. This study documents the effects of the first lockdown period on creativity and the factors that influenced it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alizée Lopez-Persem
- FrontLab, Sorbonne Université, Institut du Cerveau - Paris Brain Institute - ICM, INSERM, CNRS, AP-HP, Hôpital de la Pitié Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Théophile Bieth
- FrontLab, Sorbonne Université, Institut du Cerveau - Paris Brain Institute - ICM, INSERM, CNRS, AP-HP, Hôpital de la Pitié Salpêtrière, Paris, France
- Neurology Department, AP-HP, Hôpital de la Pitié Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Stella Guiet
- FrontLab, Sorbonne Université, Institut du Cerveau - Paris Brain Institute - ICM, INSERM, CNRS, AP-HP, Hôpital de la Pitié Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Marcela Ovando-Tellez
- FrontLab, Sorbonne Université, Institut du Cerveau - Paris Brain Institute - ICM, INSERM, CNRS, AP-HP, Hôpital de la Pitié Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Emmanuelle Volle
- FrontLab, Sorbonne Université, Institut du Cerveau - Paris Brain Institute - ICM, INSERM, CNRS, AP-HP, Hôpital de la Pitié Salpêtrière, Paris, France
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Rominger C, Fink A, Perchtold-Stefan CM, Schulter G, Weiss EM, Papousek I. Creative, yet not unique? Paranormal belief, but not self-rated creative ideation behavior is associated with a higher propensity to perceive unique meanings in randomness. Heliyon 2022; 8:e09269. [PMID: 35497038 PMCID: PMC9038559 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09269] [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: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Apophenia, patternicity, and the experience of meaningful coincidences describe the propensity to perceive meaning in random arrangements, which is known to be linked with paranormal beliefs. Additionally, this trait of combining unrelated elements to create new meanings suggests an association with creativity. However, studies indicating a relationship between creativity and apophenia are scarce. To gain empirical evidence, the present study (n = 77) assessed the propensity to experience meaningful patterns in random arrangements by means of a questionnaire (coincidence questionnaire) and a behavioral measure. The applied figural association task allows to reliably differentiate between the perception of idiosyncratic/unique and intersubjective meaningful/non-unique patterns. Self-rated creative ideation behavior and paranormal beliefs were positively associated with the subjectively rated frequency of meaningful coincidences. Furthermore, participants high in both creative ideation behavior and paranormal beliefs perceived a higher number of non-unique meanings in the figural association task. Yet, participants high in paranormal beliefs additionally perceived a higher number of unique meanings. This divergence in findings suggests that creative ideation behavior and paranormal belief are associated with the perception of partly different meanings in random arrangements. In paranormal believers, this pattern of findings may indicate a lower threshold to detect meaning in meaninglessness, leading to more idiosyncratic/unique perceptions. Altogether, slight reductions of this threshold to detect meaningfulness may increase a persons' creativity; however, excessive pattern recognition may facilitate paranormal beliefs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andreas Fink
- Institute of Psychology, University of Graz, Austria
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14
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Rapid Evidence Review of Community Engagement and Resources in the UK during the COVID-19 Pandemic: How Can Community Assets Redress Health Inequities? INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19074086. [PMID: 35409769 PMCID: PMC8998387 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19074086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Community engagement, such as participating in arts, nature or leisurely activities, is positively associated with psychological and physiological wellbeing. Community-based engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic facilitated informal and local mutual aid between individuals. This rapid evidence review assesses the emergence of community-based arts, nature, music, theatre and other types of cultural engagement amongst UK communities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we focus on all community engagement with a sub-focus on provisions accessed by and targeted towards vulnerable groups. Two hundred and fifty-six resources were included that had been created between February 2020 and January 2021. Resources were identified through Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, MedRXic, PsycharXiv and searches for grey literature and items in the public domain. The majority reported services that had been adapted to become online, telephone-based or delivered at a distance from doorsteps. Several quality assessment frameworks were used to evaluate the quality of data. Whilst a number of peer-reviewed, grey literature and public domain articles were identified, less than half of the identified literature met quality thresholds. The pace of the response to the pandemic may have meant that robust evaluation procedures were not always in place.
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Wang H, Rispens S, Demerouti E. Boosting creativity in functional diverse work groups: The importance of help-seeking behavior and openness to experience. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF WORK AND ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/1359432x.2022.2047937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Huatian Wang
- Department of Human Performance Management, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Sonja Rispens
- Department of Human Performance Management, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Evangelia Demerouti
- Department of Human Performance Management, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
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Brosowsky NP, Barr N, Mugon J, Scholer AA, Seli P, Danckert J. Creativity, Boredom Proneness and Well-Being in the Pandemic. Behav Sci (Basel) 2022; 12:68. [PMID: 35323387 PMCID: PMC8945222 DOI: 10.3390/bs12030068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Throughout the course of the pandemic, it has become clear that the strictures of social isolation and various levels of lockdown constraints have impacted people's well-being. Here, our aim was to explore relations between trait dispositions associated with boredom proneness, self-regulation and well-being using data collected early in the pandemic. Specifically, we explored whether the tendency to engage in everyday creative pursuits (e.g., making your own greeting cards) would act as a prophylactic against poor well-being. Results showed that well-being was higher for those individuals who increased engagement with creative pursuits during the early stages of the pandemic. That is, people who engaged more in everyday creative activities also reported higher levels of self-esteem, optimism, and positive affect. In contrast, those who pursued fewer creative outlets had higher levels of depression and anxiety, were higher in boredom proneness, and reported experiencing more negative affect. As we emerge from the pandemic, these data provide a clue as to how people might plan to cope adaptively with the restrictive circumstances this extreme world event engendered. More generally, these data provide support for the notion that everyday creativity (and not necessarily creative expertise) has positive associations for well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholaus P. Brosowsky
- Department of Psychology, University of Manitoba, 190 Dysart Rd., Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada;
| | - Nathaniel Barr
- Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Sheridan College, 1430 Trafalgar Rd., Oakville, ON L6H 2L1, Canada;
| | - Jhotisha Mugon
- Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada; (J.M.); (A.A.S.)
| | - Abigail A. Scholer
- Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada; (J.M.); (A.A.S.)
| | - Paul Seli
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, 417 Chapel Drive, Durham, NC 27708, USA;
| | - James Danckert
- Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada; (J.M.); (A.A.S.)
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Kiernan F, Chmiel A, Garrido S, Hickey M, Davidson JW. The Role of Artistic Creative Activities in Navigating the COVID-19 Pandemic in Australia. Front Psychol 2021; 12:696202. [PMID: 34512453 PMCID: PMC8423921 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.696202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
During the COVID-19 pandemic some Australians turned to artistic creative activities (ACAs) as a way of managing their own mental health and well-being. This study examined the role of ACAs in regulating emotion and supporting mental health and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic, and also attempted to identify at-risk populations. We proposed that (1) participants would use ACAs as avoidance-based emotion regulation strategies; and (2) music engagement would be used for emotion regulation. Australian participants (N = 653) recruited from the general public completed an online survey, which included scales targeting anxiety (GAD7 scale), depression (PHQ9 scale) and loneliness (two UCLA Loneliness Scales, referring to "Before" and "Since" COVID-19). Participants reported which ACAs they had undertaken and ceased during the pandemic using an established list and ranked their undertaken ACAs in terms of effectiveness at making them "feel better." For their top-ranked ACA, participants then completed the Emotion Regulation Scale for Artistic Creative Activities (ERS-ACA), and if participants had undertaken any musical ACAs, also the Musical Engagement Questionnaire (MusEQ). The results supported both hypotheses. ANOVAs indicated that participants ranked significantly higher on the "avoidance" ERS-ACA subscale than the other subscales, and that participants ranked significantly higher on the emotion regulation and musical preference MusEQ subscales than the other subscales. Additionally, while ACAs such as "Watching films or TV shows" and "Cookery or baking" were common, they ranked poorly as effective methods of emotion regulation, whereas "Listening to music" was the second-most frequently undertaken ACA and also the most effective. "Singing" and "Dancing" were among the most ceased ACAs but also ranked among the most effective for emotion regulation, suggesting that support for developing pandemic-safe approaches to these ACAs may provide well-being benefits in future crises. Additionally, correlation analyses showed that younger participants, those who took less exercise during the pandemic, and those with the highest musical engagement reported the poorest well-being. We conclude that ACAs provided an important resource for supporting mental health and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia and could potentially support mental health and well-being in future crises.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederic Kiernan
- Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Anthony Chmiel
- Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- The MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour, and Development, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Sandra Garrido
- The MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour, and Development, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Martha Hickey
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Jane W. Davidson
- Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Cruyt E, De Vriendt P, De Letter M, Vlerick P, Calders P, De Pauw R, Oostra K, Rodriguez-Bailón M, Szmalec A, Merchán-Baeza JA, Fernández-Solano AJ, Vidaña-Moya L, Van de Velde D. Meaningful activities during COVID-19 lockdown and association with mental health in Belgian adults. BMC Public Health 2021; 21:622. [PMID: 33785029 PMCID: PMC8009071 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-10673-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The spread of COVID-19 has affected people's daily lives, and the lockdown may have led to a disruption of daily activities and a decrease of people's mental health. AIM To identify correlates of adults' mental health during the COVID-19 lockdown in Belgium and to assess the role of meaningful activities in particular. METHODS A cross-sectional web survey for assessing mental health (General Health Questionnaire), resilience (Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale), meaning in activities (Engagement in Meaningful Activities Survey), and demographics was conducted during the first Belgian lockdown between April 24 and May 4, 2020. The lockdown consisted of closing schools, non-essential shops, and recreational settings, employees worked from home or were technically unemployed, and it was forbidden to undertake social activities. Every adult who had access to the internet and lived in Belgium could participate in the survey; respondents were recruited online through social media and e-mails. Hierarchical linear regression was used to identify key correlates. RESULTS Participants (N = 1781) reported low mental health (M = 14.85/36). In total, 42.4% of the variance in mental health could be explained by variables such as gender, having children, living space, marital status, health condition, and resilience (β = -.33). Loss of meaningful activities was strongly related to mental health (β = -.36) and explained 9% incremental variance (R2 change = .092, p < .001) above control variables. CONCLUSIONS The extent of performing meaningful activities during the COVID-19 lockdown in Belgium was positively related to adults' mental health. Insights from this study can be taken into account during future lockdown measures in case of pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen Cruyt
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Speech-language Pathology/Audiology, Ghent University, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, B3, entrance 46, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Patricia De Vriendt
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Speech-language Pathology/Audiology, Ghent University, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, B3, entrance 46, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Artevelde University College, Ghent, Belgium
- Mental Health Research group, Frailty in Ageing Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Miet De Letter
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Speech-language Pathology/Audiology, Ghent University, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, B3, entrance 46, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Peter Vlerick
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Department of Work, Organization and Society, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Patrick Calders
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Speech-language Pathology/Audiology, Ghent University, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, B3, entrance 46, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Robby De Pauw
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Speech-language Pathology/Audiology, Ghent University, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, B3, entrance 46, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Kristine Oostra
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Speech-language Pathology/Audiology, Ghent University, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, B3, entrance 46, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Arnaud Szmalec
- Psychological Sciences Research Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jose Antonio Merchán-Baeza
- Research group on Methodology, Methods, Models and Outcomes of Health and Social Sciences (M3O), Faculty of Health Science and Welfare, University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia (UVIC-UCC), 08500, Vic, Spain
| | - Ana Judit Fernández-Solano
- Department of Occupational Therapy. School of Health Sciences, Catholic University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Laura Vidaña-Moya
- Research Group GrEUIT, Escola Universitària d'Infermeria i Teràpia Ocupacional de Terrassa (EUIT), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Terrassa, Spain
| | - Dominique Van de Velde
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Speech-language Pathology/Audiology, Ghent University, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, B3, entrance 46, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
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