1. Exploring the experiences of high-risk groups during the first UK Covid-19 lockdown through creative methods.
- Author
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Wilson, Ceri, Lane, Pauline, Chandler, Rebecca, and Teatheredge, Julie
- Subjects
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RISK assessment , *INFECTION control , *ART , *MENTAL health , *ATTITUDES toward illness , *OPTIMISM , *RESEARCH funding , *AT-risk people , *INTERVIEWING , *POSITIVE psychology , *CATASTROPHIC illness , *LONELINESS , *PHOTOGRAPHY , *PSYCHOLOGICAL adaptation , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics , *STAY-at-home orders , *CREATIVE ability , *THEMATIC analysis , *EXPERIENCE , *POETRY (Literary form) , *INTERPERSONAL relations , *COVID-19 pandemic , *COVID-19 , *WRITTEN communication , *VIDEO recording , *HOPE , *WELL-being , *DISEASE risk factors - Abstract
Background: Groups at high risk of severe illness/death from COVID-19 (older people and those identified as clinically extremely vulnerable: CEV) experienced increased restrictions, poor mental health and loneliness during the first UK lockdown. Methods: Seventeen older adults, eight CEV adults, one parent of a CEV child, and two family carers of CEV adults, shared their experiences of the first UK lockdown through various media: written reflections, interviews, poetry, videos, photographs, and visual artwork. Results: Through a positive psychology lens, five themes were identified: experiencing loss; community and connection; finding joy, hope and optimism; adapting to change; and sense- and meaning-making. Conclusion: High-risk groups fostered wellbeing and flourishing and formed a sense of coherence in a time of great loss. Engagement with artistic, creative, and cultural activities facilitated this. The arts not only provided a creative means of collecting data but was also identified as a central thread in the findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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