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Fear of being infected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) could trigger mental health problems among nurses at the frontline. In such a situation, coping strategies are needed to deal with the imminent threat. The purpose of this study was to test the mediating effects of coping on relationships of fear of COVID-19 with anxiety, depression and post-traumatic syndrome among nurses who were in contact with COVID-19 patients. A cross-sectional and correlational research design was used to recruit a sample of 278 nurses who treated COVID-19 patients in four government referral hospitals in Indonesia. A bootstrap resampling procedure was used to test the significance of the total and specific indirect effects of coping on relationships of Fear of COVID-19 with anxiety, depression and post-traumatic syndrome. The nurses reported moderate levels of fear of COVID-19, considerable anxiety and depression, and a moderate level of coping. We found coping to be significantly negatively correlated with the reported levels of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic syndrome (p < 0.001). Coping mediated relationships of fear of COVID-19 on depression, anxiety and post-traumatic syndrome after controlling for relevant confounders for each dependent variable. This shows that enacting coping mechanisms is important to achieve an adaptive effect on nurses' mental health. Proper assessments and interventions should be tailored and implemented for nurses who have contact with COVID-19 patients to facilitate their use of coping strategies when needed in stressful situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: While solidarity practices were important in mitigating the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, their limits became evident as the pandemic progressed. Taking a longitudinal approach, this study analyses German residents' changing perceptions of solidarity practices during the COVID-19 pandemic and examines potential reasons for these changes. Methods: Adults living in Germany were interviewed in April 2020 (n = 46), October 2020 (n = 43) and October 2021 (n = 40) as part of the SolPan Research Commons, a large-scale, international, qualitative, longitudinal study uniquely situated in a major global public health crisis. Interviews were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results: While solidarity practices were prominently discussed and positively evaluated in April 2020, this initial enthusiasm waned in October 2020 and October 2021. Yet, participants still perceived solidarity as important for managing the pandemic and called for institutionalized forms of solidarity in October 2020 and October 2021. Reasons for these changing perceptions of solidarity included (i) increasing personal and societal costs to act in solidarity, (ii) COVID-19 policies hindering solidarity practices, and (iii) a perceived lack of reciprocity as participants felt that solidarity practices from the state were not matching their individual efforts. Conclusions: Maintaining solidarity contributes to maximizing public health during a pandemic. Institutionalized forms of solidarity to support those most in need contribute to perceived reciprocity among individuals, which might increase their motivation to act in solidarity. Thus, rather than calling for individual solidarity during times of crisis, authorities should consider implementing sustaining solidarity-based social support systems that go beyond immediate crisis management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: COVID-19 pandemic has led to psychological concerns, the distribution of which across populations may differ depending on whether pandemic-related damage is direct or indirect. This study aims to investigate concerns associated with direct and indirect damage according to population characteristics, and identify relatively vulnerable groups that are particularly affected by concerns. Method: This cross-sectional study used data from the 2020 Korea Community Health Survey, which collected data based on a complex sampling design. A total of 208,106 responses from individuals aged ≥ 19 were collected via in-person interviews. The items related to COVID-19 concerns were measured by Likert scales ranging from 1 to 5 and categorized into two types: direct concerns, which pertained to infection or death, and indirect concerns, which pertained to criticism, vulnerability, and economic damage, through factor analysis. We compared the means and effect size of direct concerns, indirect concerns, and overall concerns using weighted mean, ANOVA, and multiple regression analysis. Results: Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported a two-factor structure for psychological concerns about COVID-19 (CFI = 0.99, TLI = 0.97, SRMR = 0.02, RMSEA = 0.06), which were divided into direct and indirect concerns. Mean scores were 3.62 for direct concerns and 4.07 for indirect concerns. Direct concerns were higher in females (B =.26); the elderly (B =.15); those diagnosed with hypertension or diabetes (B =.04; B =.06); those with few assistants during quarantine (B =.15); and those whose neighbors responded inappropriately to COVID-19 (B =.07). Indirect concerns were lower among the elderly (B = -.04), and higher among young; married (B =.25); pink- or blue-collar workers (B =.08; B =.06); and those who felt that the city responded inappropriately to COVID-19 (B =.02). Conclusion: The prevalence of concerns regarding direct and indirect damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic differed according to population characteristics. Some factors had a marked influence on direct and indirect concerns. Our findings could inform psychological interventions and policies for future pandemics. Customized interventions are needed to prevent negative psychological concerns and improve mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Given the worldwide reach of COVID-19, media coverage has amplified the psychological and social effects of this pandemic causing a widespread fear. Despite substantial research on the short-term psychological impact of COVID-19, its long-term consequences on mental health remain relatively unexplored. This research aims to develop and validate a Post-Pandemic Fear of Viral Disease (PPFVD) scale and to see its relationship with general anxiety disorder among the Pakistani population. Methods: A cross-sectional online-based survey was conducted with 457 respondents in August and September 2022. We adopted the modified fear of coronavirus scale (FCV-19 S) consisting of seven items and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) questionnaire to measure anxiety disorder. Confirmatory factor analysis was applied using the maximum likelihood estimation method. Scale dimensions and item reliability were tested for their validity and goodness of fit. SPSS and AMOS were used for data management and analyses. Results: All inter-item correlations were found to be significant and ranged between 0.30 and 0.70. The value of Cronbach's alpha was 0.887, indicating good reliability. Corrected item-total correlations ranged between 0.632 and 0.754. Factor loadings ranged from 0.664 to 0.810, indicating a good internal consistency. Overall, these results clearly demonstrate that the one-factor solution model for PPFVD presents a good fit to the data. The composite reliability (CR = 0.747) was also good. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected the mental health of people globally. This measurement scale can be trusted and used to test the PPFVD in the post-pandemic situation. Prospective research might validate this instrument in newly emerging scenarios and test it with diverse ethnic groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a prevalent public health issue associated with multiple physical and mental health consequences for survivors. Digital interventions can provide low-threshold support to those experiencing IPV, but existing digital interventions have limited efficacy in improving the safety and mental health of IPV survivors. Digitally adapting an integrative intervention with advocacy-based and psychological content holds promise for increasing the efficacy of digital interventions in the context of IPV. Methods: This study examines the needs, acceptability and usability of an integrative digital intervention for people affected by IPV. We used the think-aloud method and semi-structured interviews with a sample of six people with lived experiences of IPV and six service providers. We analyzed the data using thematic analysis. Results: We identified the increasing general acceptance of digital support tools and the limited capacity of the current support system as societal context factors influencing the acceptance of and needs regarding digital interventions in the context of IPV. An integrative digital self-help intervention offers several opportunities to complement the current support system and to meet the needs of people affected by IPV, including the reduction of social isolation, a space for self-reflection and coping strategies to alleviate the situation. However, potentially ongoing violence, varying stages of awareness and psychological capacities, and as well as the diversity of IPV survivors make it challenging to develop a digital intervention suitable for the target group. We received feedback on the content of the intervention and identified design features required for intervention usability. Conclusion: An integrative digital self-help approach, with appropriate security measures and trauma-informed design, has the potential to provide well-accepted, comprehensive and continuous psychosocial support to people experiencing IPV. A multi-modular intervention that covers different topics and can be personalized to individual user needs could address the diversity of the target population. Providing guidance for the digital intervention is critical to spontaneously address individual needs. Further research is needed to evaluate the efficacy of an integrative digital self-help intervention and to explore its feasibility it in different settings and populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: COVID-19 lockdown resulted in the closure of schools with associated problems. The aim of this study was to determine the associations between depression, fear of contracting COVID-19 infection and the use of self-care measures by college students during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that collected data from undergraduate and postgraduate college students 18 years and older from 152 countries between June and December 2020. Study participants were recruited through crowdsourcing using various social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, WhatsApp groups and emails to participants in the collaborators' networks. The dependent variables were fear of contracting COVID-19 and depression while the independent variable was students' self-care measures. Multivariable logistic regression models were conducted to assess the associations between the dependent and independent variables. Results: Of the 2840 respondents, 1305 (46.0%) had fears of contracting COVID-19 and 599 (21.1%) reported depression. The most common self-care measures were phone calls with friends/family (60.1%) and video chat (52.8%). Learning a new skill was significantly associated with higher odds of fear of contracting COVID-19 (AOR = 1.669) and lower odds of having depression (AOR = 0.684). Talking to friends/family through video chat (AOR = 0.809) was significantly associated with lower odds of feeling depressed while spending time with pets (AOR = 1.470) and taking breaks from the news/social media (AOR = 1.242) were significantly associated with higher odds of feeling depressed. Students from lower middle-income countries (AOR = 0.330) had significantly lower odds of feeling depressed than students from low-income countries. Conclusion: Self-care strategies involving social interactions were associated with less depression. Coping strategies with more cognitive demands may significantly reduce the risk of fear of COVID-19. Special attention needs to be given to students in low-income countries who have higher odds of depression during the pandemic than students from other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the spread of misinformation worldwide. The purpose of this study was to explore perceptions of misinformation and preferred sources of obtaining COVID-19 information from those living in Canada. In particular, we sought to explore the perceptions of East Asian individuals in Canada, who experienced stigma related to COVID-19 messaging. Methods: We conducted a qualitative thematic analysis study. Interviews were offered in English, Mandarin and Cantonese. Interviewers probed for domains related to knowledge about COVID-19, preferred sources of information, perceived barriers and facilitators of misinformation, and preferences for communication during a health emergency. Interviews were recorded, translated, transcribed verbatim and analyzed using a framework approach. Transcripts were independently double-coded until > 60% agreement was reached. This study received research ethics approval. Results: Fifty-five interviews were conducted. The majority of participants were women (67%); median age was 52 years. 55% of participants were of East-Asian descent. Participants obtained information about COVID-19 from diverse English and non-English sources including news media, government agencies or representatives, social media, and personal networks. Challenges to seeking and understanding information included: encountering misinformation, making sense of evolving or conflicting public health guidance, and limited information on topics of interest. 65% of participants reported encountering COVID-19 misinformation. East Asian participants called on government officials to champion messaging to reduce stigmatizing and racist rhetoric and highlighted the importance of having accessible, non-English language information sources. Participants provided recommendations for future public health communications guidance during health emergencies, including preferences for message content, information messengers, dissemination platforms and format of messages. Almost all participants preferred receiving information from the Canadian government and found it helpful to utilize various mediums and platforms such as social media and news media for future risk communication, urging for consistency across all platforms. Conclusions: We provide insights on Canadian experiences navigating COVID-19 information, where more than half perceived encountering misinformation on platforms when seeking COVID-19 information. We provide recommendations to inform public health communications during future health emergencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study sought to determine whether public perceptions of other vaccines and diseases than COVID-19 have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. We longitudinally examined whether there had been a change from before the COVID-19 pandemic to during the pandemic in: (a) influenza vaccination behaviour and intentions; (b) the perceived benefit of childhood vaccines and influenza vaccines; (c) the perceived safety of childhood vaccines and influenza vaccines; (d) the perceived severity of measles and influenza; and (e) trust in healthcare professionals in two samples of Finnish adults (N = 205 in Study 1 and N = 197 in Study 2). The findings showed that during the pandemic, more people than before had received or wanted to receive the influenza vaccine. The respondents also believed that influenza was more dangerous during the pandemic and that vaccinations were safer and more beneficial. On the other hand, for childhood vaccines only perceived safety increased. Finally, in one of the studies, people had more confidence in medical professionals during the pandemic than they had before. Together, these findings imply a spillover of the COVID-19 pandemic on how people view other vaccines and illnesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Only 63.8% of Americans who are 18-to-24-years-old have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 as of June 1, 2022. The Grand Forks County, North Dakota is facing a similar challenge. As of June 2022, 47% of individuals in the 19-to-29-year-old age group are vaccinated. Focusing on unvaccinated individuals in their 20s, Study 1 aims to understand the ways in which receiving COVID-19 vaccines is construed using qualitative interviews; and Study 2 compares the predictors of short-term vaccination intention (i.e., next month) with those of long-term vaccination intention (i.e., three to 5 years) using an online survey.Methods: For Study 1, we conducted five focus groups and four in-depth interviews via Zoom with a total of 26 unvaccinated individuals in their 20s living in the Grand Forks County. Constant comparison process was used to categorize data into themes and to recognize characteristics of the identified themes. The aim was to develop themes and associated characteristics. For Study 2, we conducted an online survey with a convenience sample of 526 unvaccinated individuals. Logistic regression estimated odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for associations between attitudes, perceptions, and beliefs in misinformation and short-term and long-term vaccination intentions, accounting for demographics and socioeconomic status.Results: In Study 1, two themes were identified: feelings of uncertainty sparked by profits and monetization and navigating the fear of the unknown. In Study 2, an increase in the confidence of COVID-19 vaccines showed significantly higher odds of short-term intention (OR = 2.658, 95%CI 1.770, 3.990) and long-term intention (OR = 1.568, 95% CI 1.105, 2.226). Believing in misinformation had significantly lower odds of short-term intention (OR = 0.712, 95%CI 0.513, 0.990), while more positive attitudes (OR = 1.439, 95% CI 1.024, 2.024), stronger preference in calculating the benefits of COVID-19 vaccines (OR = 2.108, 95% CI 1.541, 2.882), and greater perceived susceptibility (OR = 1.471, 95% CI 1.045, 2.070) to and severity of contracting COVID-19 (OR = 1.362, 95% CI 1.020, 1.820) were significantly associated with higher odds of long-term intention.Conclusions: Short-term and long-term intentions were predicted differently. Instilling strong confidence in COVID-19 vaccines should increase both short-term and long-term intentions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Governments have attempted to combat the COVID-19 pandemic by issuing guidelines for disease prevention behavior (e.g., wearing masks, social distancing, etc.) and by enforcing these guidelines. However, while some citizens have complied with these guidelines, others have ignored them or have even participated in large-scale protests. This research aims both to understand the causes of such variation in citizens' adherence to government guidelines on disease prevention behavior and to extend the scientific literature on disease prevention to account for the collective resilience of a society to diseases. Thus, this research draws on the health belief model and collective resilience theory to develop hypotheses about the determinants of a citizen's disease prevention behavior. These hypotheses deal with how citizens' vulnerability, attitudes toward disease prevention, and social orientation are associated with COVID-19 prevention behaviors. Methods: From March 24 to April 4, 2020, a cross-sectional online survey was conducted in Bolivia. It included questions on demographic characteristics, chronic health problems, emotional burden, attitudes towards preventive behaviors, trust in public institutions, and culture. Among 5265 participants who clicked on the survey, 1857 at least partially filled it out. After removing data with missing responses to any variable, the final sample consists of 1231 respondents. The collected data were analyzed using hierarchical linear modeling. Results: Regarding a citizen's vulnerability, chronic health problems have a U-shaped association with disease prevention behavior. Moreover, age, female gender, and worries have positive associations with disease prevention behavior, whereas depression showed a negative association. Regarding attitudes toward disease prevention, trust in public institutions, and attitudes toward social distancing, a government-imposed lockdown and the enforcement of this lockdown showed positive associations with disease prevention behavior. Regarding social orientation, individualism and collectivism both have positive relationships with disease prevention behavior. Conclusions: In the COVID-19 pandemic, a citizen's low vulnerability, weak social orientation, and beliefs about low benefits of disease prevention behavior are associated with poor compliance with guidelines on disease prevention behavior. More research on these associations would help generalize these findings to other populations and other public health crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]