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People have different emotional beliefs (or affective attitudes) towards organ donation (Morgan et al., 2008). The negative affective attitudes include the belief that the body should be kept whole (bodily integrity), feeling disgust towards organ donation (ick factor), concerns about unethical practices being undertaken by medical professionals (medical mistrust) and superstitious beliefs about organ donation (jinx). Perceived benefits is a positive affective attitude which focuses on the benefit of organ donation to the donor (e.g., donors are heroes). Previous research has found that negative affective attitudes deter people from registering as an organ donor, whilst perceived benefits promotes registration as a donor (O'Carroll et al., 2011; Shepherd & O'Carroll, 2014). Therefore, asking people to cognitively reappraise their perceptions of organ donation, to focus on its perceived benefits, may increase the likelihood of people registering as an organ donor. In this project, we will test whether asking people to focus on the perceived benefits of organ donation may increase the likelihood of people registering as an organ donor (i.e., opting-in) in an opt-out consent system. In this experiment, participants will be asked to either cognitively reappraise to focus on the perceived benefits of donation (cognitive reappraisal condition) or not (control condition). We will then see whether this improves organ donor registration 1 month later. We will also see the process through which this occurs.

People have different emotional beliefs (or affective attitudes) towards organ donation (Morgan et al., 2008). The negative affective attitudes include the belief that the body should be kept whole (bodily integrity), feeling disgust towards organ donation (ick factor), concerns about unethical practices being undertaken by medical professionals (medical mistrust) and superstitious beliefs about organ donation (jinx). Perceived benefits is a positive affective attitude which focuses on the benefit of organ donation to the donor (e.g., donors are heroes). Previous research has found that negative affective attitudes deter people from registering as an organ donor, whilst perceived benefits promotes registration as a donor (O'Carroll et al., 2011; Shepherd & O'Carroll, 2014). Therefore, asking people to cognitively reappraise their perceptions of organ donation, to focus on its perceived benefits, may increase the likelihood of people registering as an organ donor. In this project, we will test whether asking people to focus on the perceived benefits of organ donation may increase the likelihood of people registering as an organ donor (i.e., opting-in) in an opt-out consent system. In this experiment, participants will be asked to either cognitively reappraise to focus on the perceived benefits of donation (cognitive reappraisal condition) or not (control condition). We will then see whether this improves organ donor registration 1 month later. We will also see the process through which this occurs.

Background Waves 1 to 3 (March 2020 to May 2020) of the UK COVID-19 Mental Health and Wellbeing study suggested an improvement in some indicators of mental health across the first 6 weeks of the UK lockdown; however, suicidal ideation increased. Aims To report the prevalence of mental health and well-being of adults in the UK from March/April 2020 to February 2021. Method Quota sampling was employed at wave 1 (March/April 2020), and online surveys were conducted at seven time points. Primary analyses cover waves 4 (May/June 2020), 5 (July/August 2020), 6 (October 2020) and 7 (February 2021), including a period of increased restrictions in the UK. Mental health indicators were suicidal ideation, self-harm, suicide attempt, depression, anxiety, defeat, entrapment, loneliness and well-being. Results A total of 2691 (87.5% of wave 1) individuals participated in at least one survey between waves 4 and 7. Depressive symptoms and loneliness increased from October 2020 to February 2021. Defeat and entrapment increased from July/August 2020 to October 2020, and remained elevated in February 2021. Well-being decreased from July/August 2020 to October 2020. Anxiety symptoms and suicidal ideation did not change. Young adults, women, those who were socially disadvantaged and those with a pre-existing mental health condition reported worse mental health. Conclusions The mental health and well-being of the UK population deteriorated from July/August 2020 to October 2020 and February 2021, which coincided with the second wave of COVID-19. Suicidal thoughts did not decrease significantly, suggesting a need for continued vigilance as we recover from the pandemic.

Background: \ud The lasting effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic are likely to be significant.\ud \ud Aims: \ud This study tracked worry and rumination levels during the pandemic and investigated whether periods with higher COVID-related worry and rumination were associated with more negative mental health and loneliness.\ud \ud Methods: \ud A quota survey design and a sampling frame that permitted recruitment of a national sample were employed. Findings for waves 1 (March 2020) to 6 (November 2020) are reported (N = 1943).\ud \ud Results: \ud Covid-related worry and rumination levels were highest at the beginning of the first lockdown, then declined but increased when the UK returned to lockdown. Worry levels were higher than rumination levels throughout. High levels of COVID-related worry and rumination were associated with a five- and ten-fold increase in clinically meaningful rates of depression and anxiety (respectively) together with lower well-being and higher loneliness. The effects of COVID-related worry on depression and anxiety levels were most marked and clinically meaningful in individuals living with a pre-existing mental health condition.\ud \ud Conclusions: \ud Psychological interventions should include components that specifically target COVID-related worry and rumination. Individuals with pre-existing mental health conditions should be prioritised as we emerge from the current pandemic and in any future public health crises.