Search

Social distancing measures are typically recommended to contain the spread of infectious diseases. To improve the public's voluntary compliance, governments and health authorities seek to publicize timely information about the pandemic. Yet social planners may exaggerate or downplay their private information about the disease's severity to elicit their preferred level of social distancing. This is because the relative weight they assign to the costs of isolation over public health may be unbalanced, and people may not fully consider how their social distancing may influence others' infection risk. Consequently, messages and claims about the pandemic may be distrusted. The author investigates whether and when communication can be fully or partially credible despite apparent incentives for misrepresentation. The author finds that a government would communicate truthfully in equilibrium if and only if the disease severity levels are not too close to each other in the public's prior belief. Nevertheless, an increasing difference between the severity levels need not enhance the credibility of communication. Greater communication credibility may hurt social welfare. Moreover, as the government becomes more concerned about the costs of social distancing, its equilibrium messages may become more or less trustworthy. The article's results can benefit social planners and users of their messages (e.g., analysts, researchers, investors). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although 24-hour movement behaviors are known to be interconnected, limited knowledge exists about whether change in one behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic (eg, increased screen time) was associated with change in another (eg, reduced physical activity or sleep). This review estimates mediational associations between changes in children's physical activity, screen time, and sleep during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We included studies published between January 1, 2020 and June 27, 2022, in the PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science databases. Summary data were extracted from included studies and analyzed with random-effects meta-regression. Results: This review included 26 studies representing 18,959 children across 18 mid-high-income countries (53% male; mean age, 11.5 [2.9] y). There was very good evidence of decreased total daily physical activity (factor change, 0.62; 90% CI, 0.47–0.81) and strong evidence of increased screen time (1.56; 90% CI, 1.38–1.77). There was very good evidence of decreased moderate to vigorous physical activity (0.75; 90% CI, 0.62–0.90) and weak evidence of increased sleep (1.02; 90% CI, 1.00–1.04). Mediational analysis revealed strong evidence that most of the reduction in total daily physical activity from before, to during, the pandemic was associated with increased screen time (0.53; 90% CI, 0.42–0.67). We observed no further mediational associations. Conclusion: Increased reliance on and use of screen-based devices during the COVID-19 pandemic can be linked with reduced child and adolescent physical activity. This finding links COVID-related restrictions to potential displacement effects within child and adolescent 24-hour movement behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: A decline in youth running was observed at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. We investigated whether the resumption of organized running after social distancing restrictions changed running habits or injury frequency in adolescent runners. Methods: Adolescents (age = 16.1 [2.1] y) who participated in long-distance running activities completed an online survey in the Spring and Fall of 2020. Participants self-reported average weekly running habits and whether they sustained an injury during the Fall 2020 season. Poisson regression models and 1-way analysis of variance compared running habits while Fisher exact test compared differences in frequencies of injuries during Fall 2020 among season statuses (full, delayed, and canceled). Results: All runners, regardless of season status, increased weekly distance during Fall 2020. Only runners with a full Fall 2020 season ran more times per week and more high-intensity runs per week compared with their Spring 2020 running habits. There were no differences in running volume or running-related injury frequency among Fall 2020 season statuses. Conclusions: There were no significant differences in running-related injury (RRI) frequency among runners, regardless of season status, following the resumption of cross-country. Health care providers may need to prepare for runners to increase running volume and intensity following the resumption of organized team activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundSocial distancing from the COVID-19 pandemic may have decreased engagement in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) and may have had possible consequences on post-CR exercise maintenance. The increased use of technology as an adaptation may benefit post-CR participants via wearables and social media. Thus, we sought to explore the possible relationships of both the pandemic and technology on post-CR exercise maintenance.ObjectiveThis study aimed to (1) understand CR participation during the COVID-19 pandemic, (2) identify perceived barriers and facilitators to physical activity after CR completion, and (3) assess willingness to use technology and social media to support physical activity needs among older adults with cardiovascular disease.MethodsWe recruited participants aged 55 years and older in 3 different CR programs offered at both public and private hospitals in Northern California. We conducted individual interviews on CR experiences, physical activity, and potential for using technology. We used thematic analysis to synthesize the data.ResultsIn total, 22 participants (n=9, 41% female participants; mean age 73, SD 8 years) completed in-depth interviews. Themes from participants' feedback included the following: (1) anxiety and frustration about the wait for CR caused by COVID-19 conditions, (2) positive and safe participant experience once in CR during the pandemic, (3) greater attention needed to patients after completion of CR, (4) notable demand for technology during the pandemic and after completion of CR, and (5) social media networking during the CR program considered valuable if training is provided.ConclusionsIndividuals who completed CR identified shared concerns about continuing physical activity despite having positive experiences during the CR program. There were significant challenges during the pandemic and heightened concerns for safety and health. The idea of providing support by leveraging digital technology (wearable devices and social media for social support) resonated as a potential solution to help bridge the gap from CR to more independent physical activity. More attention is needed to help individuals experience a tailored and safe transition to home to maintain physical activity among those who complete CR.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic affected older adults worldwide. Sedentary older adults experienced more severe adverse health effects due to their shelter-in-place. Physical activity was strongly recommended during periods of social distancing. The present study evaluated the impact of a virtually supervised exercise program on the physical fitness and mental health of Mexican older adults during the pandemics lockdown. METHODS: Participants were 44 older adults who were assigned to one of four physical fitness groups: a healthy control group (Ctrl-H, n = 15), a comorbidity control group (Ctrl-COM, n = 9), an exercise group without comorbidities (Exe-H, n = 11), and an exercise group with comorbidities (Exe-COM, n = 9). The participants engaged in a 60-min, virtually-supervised concurrent exercise session three times/week for 12 weeks. Fitness was measured using the online Senior Fitness Tests and the 4-m Gait Speed Test. Mental health was evaluated through virtual interviews using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, the Geriatric Depression Scale, and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. Within-subject pre vs. post-intervention comparisons tested for significant differences, between-groups and over time. RESULTS: Significant interactions were found in the scores of the Geriatric Depression Scale (p ≤ 0.0001; ηp2 = 0.35), the Hamilton Depression Scale (p ≤ 0.0001; ηp2 = 0.35), resilience scores (p ≤ 0.0001; ηp2 = 0.46), lower-body strength (p ≤ 0.0001; ηp2 = 0.32), timed up-and-go test (p = 0.018; ηp2 = 0.18), the 6MWT distance scores (p ≤ 0.0001; ηp2 = 0.39), and the 4-m gait speed test scores (p = 0.011; ηp2 = 0.20). CONCLUSION: A long-term virtually-supervised exercise program conducted during the COVID-19 lockdown period led to marked improvements in both the fitness and mental health of older Mexican adults. Comorbidities did not diminish these benefits. These findings provide empirical support for online exercise programs in the daily routines of older adults to make clinically meaningful improvements in both physical and mental well-being.

Copyright of Retos: Nuevas Perspectivas de Educación Física, Deporte y Recreación is the property of Federacion Espanola de Asociaciones de Docentes de Educacion Fisica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Public health restrictions to protect physical health during the COVID-19 pandemic had unintended effects on mental health, which may have disproportionately affected some potentially vulnerable groups. This scoping review of qualitative research provides a narrative synthesis of new mothers' perspectives on their mental health during COVID-19 pandemic restrictions through pregnancy to the postpartum period. Database searches in PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO sought primary research studies published until February 2023, which focused on new mothers' self-perceived mental health during the pandemic (N = 55). Our synthesis found that new mothers' mental health was impacted by general public health restrictions resulting in isolation from family and friends, a lack of community support, and impacts on the immediate family. However, public health restrictions specific to maternal and infant healthcare were most often found to negatively impact maternal mental health, namely, hospital policies prohibiting the presence of birthing partners and in-person care for their infants. This review of qualitative research adds depth to previous reviews that have solely examined the quantitative associations between COVID-19 public health restrictions and new mothers' mental health. Here, our review demonstrates the array of adverse impacts of COVID-19 public health restrictions on new mothers' mental health throughout pregnancy into the postpartum period, as reported by new mothers. These findings may be beneficial for policy makers in future public health emergency planning when evaluating the impacts and unintended consequences of public health restrictions on new mothers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The classical and extensively-studied Fréchet distance between two curves is defined as an inf max, where the infimum is over all traversals of the curves, and the maximum is over all concurrent positions of the two agents. In this article we investigate a "flipped" Fréchet measure defined by a sup min – the supremum is over all traversals of the curves, and the minimum is over all concurrent positions of the two agents. This measure produces a notion of "social distance" between two curves (or general domains), where agents traverse curves while trying to stay as far apart as possible. We first study the flipped Fréchet measure between two polygonal curves in one and two dimensions, providing conditional lower bounds and matching algorithms. We then consider this measure on polygons, where it denotes the minimum distance that two agents can maintain while restricted to travel in or on the boundary of the same polygon. We investigate several variants of the problem in this setting, for some of which we provide linear-time algorithms. We draw connections between our proposed flipped Fréchet measure and existing related work in computational geometry, hoping that our new measure may spawn investigations akin to those performed for the Fréchet distance, and into further interesting problems that arise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerging adulthood is an important developmental phase often accompanied by peaks in loneliness, social anxiety, and depression. However, knowledge is lacking on how the relationships between emotional loneliness, social loneliness, social isolation, social anxiety and depression evolve over time. Gaining insight in these temporal relations is crucial for our understanding of how these problems arise and maintain each other across time. Young adults from a university sample (N = 1,357; M = 23.60 years, SD = 6.30) filled out questionnaires on emotional and social loneliness, social isolation, depressive and social anxiety symptoms at three time points within a 3‐year period. Random intercept cross‐lagged panel models were used to disentangle reciprocal and prospective associations of loneliness subtypes, social isolation, depressive and social anxiety symptoms across time. Results showed that on the within‐person level, increases in emotional and social loneliness as well as social isolation predicted higher depression levels on later timepoints. Increases in depressive symptoms also predicted increases in subsequent social loneliness, but not in emotional loneliness. Finally, increases in depressive symptoms predicted increases in social isolation. There were no significant temporal relations between loneliness and social isolation on the one hand and social anxiety symptoms on the other hand. Social distancing imposed by COVID‐19 related government restrictions may have impacted the current results. The findings suggest that emotional and social loneliness precede development of depressive symptoms, which in turn precedes development of social loneliness and social isolation, indicating a potential vicious cycle of social loneliness, social isolation and depressive symptoms in emerging adulthood. Social anxiety did not precede nor follow loneliness, depressive symptoms, or social isolation. The current study sheds more light on the temporal order of loneliness and psychopathological symptoms and hereby assists in identifying times where prevention and intervention efforts may be especially helpful to counter development of depression and loneliness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak has spread worldwide, and the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global pandemic in March 2020. The transmission mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 in indoor environments has begun to be investigated in all aspects. In this regard, many numerical studies on social distancing and the protection of surgical masks against infection risk have neglected the evaporation of the particles. Meanwhile, a 1.83 m (6 feet) social distancing rule has been recommended to reduce the infection risk. However, it should be noted that most of the studies were conducted in static air conditions. Air movement in indoor environments is chaotic, and it is not easy to track all droplets in a ventilated room experimentally. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) enables the tracking of all particles in a ventilated environment. This study numerically investigated the airborne transmission of infectious droplets in a hospital examination room cooled by a split-type air conditioner with the CFD method. Different inlet velocities (1, 2, 3 m/s) were considered and investigated separately. Besides, the hospital examination room is a model of one of the Bursa Uludag University Hospital examination rooms. The patient, doctor, and some furniture are modeled in the room. Particle diameters considered ranged from 2 to 2000 μm. The evaporation of the droplets is not neglected, and the predictions of particle tracks are shown. As a result, locations with a high infection risk were identified, and the findings that could guide the design/redesign of the hospital examination rooms were evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study (N = 370) explored the motivations behind using two popular dating apps, Tinder and Bumble, among 18–30 years old Indian emerging adults. The study found that both apps are very popular, with many users accessing them daily, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic when people turned to online dating to connect while social distancing. Six motivations were identified for using Tinder and Bumble: love, ease of communication, distraction, sexual experience, socialising, and trendiness. The research findings suggest that age and gender are important factors in understanding the motivations of emerging adults to use Tinder and Bumble. The study results showed that life position indicators significantly influenced dating behaviours. No significant difference was found between Tinder and Bumble in terms of frequency of usage and the number of dates. However, there were significant differences in the motivations behind using them, with Tinder being seen as a more casual dating app, where users are primarily looking for entertainment and fun, while Bumble is seen as a more serious dating app, where users are looking for meaningful connections and relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a versatile model with a flexible choice of control for an early-pandemic outbreak prevention when vaccine/drug is not yet available. At that stage, control is often limited to non-medical interventions like social distancing and other behavioral changes. For the SIR optimal control problem, we show that the running cost of control satisfying mild, practically justified conditions generates an optimal strategy, u(t), t ∈ [0, T], that is sustainable up until some moment t ∈ [0, T). However, for any t ∈ [t, T], the function u(t) will decline as t approaches T, which may cause the number of newly infected people to increase. So, the window from 0 to t is the time for public health officials to prepare alternative mitigation measures, such as vaccines, testing, antiviral medications, and others. In addition to theoretical study, we develop a fast and stable computational method for solving the proposed optimal control problem. The efficiency of the new method is illustrated with numerical examples of optimal control trajectories for various cost functions and weights. Simulation results provide a comprehensive demonstration of the effects of control on the epidemic spread and mitigation expenses, which can serve as invaluable references for public health officials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During an epidemic, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, policy-makers are faced with the decision of implementing effective, yet socioeconomically costly intervention strategies, such as school and workplace closure, physical distancing, etc. In this study, we propose a rigorous definition of epidemiological strategies. In addition, we develop a scheme for comparing certain epidemiological strategies, with the goal of providing policy-makers with a tool for their systematic comparison. Then, we put the suggested scheme to the test by employing an age-based epidemiological compartment model introduced in Bitsouni et al. (2024), coupled with data from the literature, in order to compare the effectiveness of age-based and horizontal interventions. In general, our findings suggest that these two are comparable, mainly at a low or medium level of intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I explore the impact of social distancing on trading activity during the COVID‐19 pandemic using real‐time location tracking data from Facebook users. I find that stocks categorized as "harder‐to‐value," which are typically smaller, less transparent, less visible, and less profitable, experience decreased abnormal trading with more social distancing in their headquarters counties. In contrast, "easier‐to‐value" stocks show an increase in abnormal trading due to high social distancing in their headquarters counties. These findings indicate that greater firm‐specific information asymmetry arises from increased social distancing within the firm headquarters counties. Although "easier‐to‐value" stocks can use alternative information sources to mitigate the information asymmetry, "harder‐to‐value" stocks fail to do so and face negative impact on trading. Additional analyses using alternative information channels, market sidedness, and liquidity confirm this hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) are important drivers of the global burden of disease, and their impact is exacerbated during outbreaks. Directives to practice handwashing and physical distancing may be impractical for people that have limited access to WASH resources. In this study, which took place during the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, we explore the relationship between control measures for global health crises and water, sanitation, and hygiene insecurity, with implications for other infectious diseases and future health emergencies. Methods: We investigated the relationship between WASH-related factors and disease prevention behaviors (handwashing, physical distancing, and masking), and the role of demographic characteristics and risk perceptions in influencing these relationships in low-income neighborhoods of Beira, Mozambique during the COVID-19 pandemic. We utilized data collected from 1,762 randomly selected households during a population-based survey. We fit multivariable logistic regression models to examine the associations between various WASH factors and disease prevention outcomes of interest, adjusting for individual- and household-level demographic characteristics and risk perceptions. Results: Over 98% of people had access to improved drinking water and over 80% of people had access to improved sanitation facilities. There was a high level of reported adherence to handwashing (95.5%) and physical distancing (91.7%) practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. There was a lower odds of reported handwashing [aOR = 0.89; 95% CI: 0.81, 0.98] and physical distancing [0.85 (0.80, 0.92)] among respondents who had higher levels of water insecurity. Respondents that had a water source in their dwelling had a higher odds of reporting of physical distancing [2.03 (1.22, 3.41)] compared to people that had to leave their household to access water. There was a higher odds of reported handwashing and physical distancing among respondents who had their own sanitation facility, compared to a shared one [handwashing: 2.77 (1.35, 5.82); distancing: 1.61 (0.95, 2.73)], and those that had a sanitation facility inside their compound compared to outside their compound [handwashing: 2.11 (0.75, 5.71); distancing: 1.50 (0.65, 3.36)]. Respondents with a basic handwashing station, compared to no facility or a limited facility, had a higher odds of reported handwashing [4.45 (2.37, 8.65)], and those that had a connected handwashing station, compared to an unconnected handwashing station, had a higher odds of reporting handwashing and physical distancing [handwashing: 2.13 (0.68, 8.54); distancing: 1.77 (0.77, 4.53)]. Conclusions: Despite a high level of knowledge about the risks posed by COVID-19 and understanding of the benefits of handwashing and physical distancing, limitations in access to water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure acted as a barrier to people practicing disease prevention behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to unravel the key determinants of individuals' information seeking behavior during health crises. It challenges conventional perspectives that solely emphasize individual experiences. It also undermines frameworks that draw direct parallels between individual experiences and media factors, disregarding the mediating role of media. Models like the Comprehensive Model of Information Seeking (CMIS) also have limitations as they prioritize media mediation over recognizing the direct impacts of individual experiences on information seeking behaviors. We hereby propose a framework, the Media-Mediated Model of Information Seeking Behavior, that sheds light on the interplay between individual and media experiences. Analysis of survey data involving 5,469 participants in three Chinese societies, including mainland China (n = 2,067), Hong Kong (n = 1,913), and Taiwan (n = 1,489), reveals that individual experiences have both direct and indirect effects on information seeking, mediated by media utility. Experience of symptoms and risk perception depend on people's perceptions of the utility of media, while efficacy and media trust directly influence information seeking behaviors. These findings contribute to theoretical understanding and offer practical guidelines. Public institutions and health promoters can leverage media platforms to shape people's perceptions of health issues and encourage active information behaviors. It is also crucial to prioritize cultivating public trust in media and efficacy during crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reduce the impact of communicable diseases like COVID-19, collective action is required and likely to be susceptible to normative influence as well as whether people are more or less collectively oriented. We extend the theory of normative social behavior (TNSB) to account for group orientation and predict the relationships between social norms and physical distancing behaviors. Using a rolling cross-sectional design during 17 weeks of the pandemic, a national sample of US residents from 20 states (N = 8,778) participated in the study. The findings show that perceived descriptive norms, injunctive norms, and group orientation are significantly associated with physical distancing. The descriptive norm-behavior relationship and injunctive norm-behavior relationship are moderated by group orientation and the other predicted moderators in the TNSB. The findings extend the TNSB and highlight the need to understand social norms and group orientation in formative research for health communication campaigns designed to promote prevention behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the daily lives of older adults. Three case reports illustrate how individuals have coped with loss, maintained routines, and faced emotional challenges. Understanding these experiences can guide efforts to promote the well-being and resilience of older adults during this time. Interview questions included "What was your daily routine and any leisure activities you participated in before COVID-19? During the height of social distancing?" to explore the impact of this pandemic on older adults' daily routines and the effects on their mental and physical health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a life-altering experience. It compelled individuals to alter their attitudes and habits and adopt measures to prevent the risks of infection. This research discusses factors that determine adherence to these measures, with the aim of enhancing compliance in future pandemics. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using snowball non-random sampling through an online Qualtrics survey targeting Bahraini residents, aged 18 and older. The sample included 1,008 participants, and data were analyzed using SPSS, and presented in tables and graphs. The majority of the participants were Bahraini females with a bachelor's degree, between the ages of 20–29 (43.2%). Awareness of COVID-19 transmission was high, with 87.7%. The adherence rates for preventive measures were high: mask usage at 98.8%, hygiene practices at 93.7%, and social distancing at 92.2%. Older adults aged 50 + showed the highest consistency in compliance (p = 0.001). Individuals with chronic diseases were more likely to adhere to mask use (p < 0.001). Conversely, those experiencing negative emotions about social distancing were more likely to visit crowded places (p = 0.031), indicating a psychological barrier. Mask use exhibited the highest adherence at 98.8%, while overall compliance was notably high among educated and retired individuals. Public health campaigns should target younger demographics with education about crowded spaces and address emotional barriers to social distancing. Future strategies can be tailored to promote adherence among diverse populations, enhancing community resilience against pandemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 delivered distributional effects on the labour market. Therefore, policymakers concentrated on designing more efficient and effective fiscal supports to alleviate economic damages. To draw more specific pictures, this study estimates who faced harder impacts and how much they experienced economic difficulties in Korea using unconditional quantile regression and separating vulnerable sectors, such as face-to-face industries. The findings suggest that self-employed workers in the vulnerable industries at low-income percentiles presented the most severe damages. Second, self-employed workers in other sectors, temporary workers in the vulnerable industries, and low-income households also had serious impacts. Third, female workers, who have a primary child-care duty, experienced serious negative effects due to the regulation disparity between strict school closure measures and generous workplace restrictions. In this regard, financial supports should aim to target more damaged groups instead of universal benefits. Furthermore, it is also important to improve child-care services to mitigate gender inequality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The behavioral restrictions disrupting daily life during the COVID‐19 pandemic have profoundly impacted well‐being, and health behaviors have been advocated to prevent decline. To understand how processes related to fluctuation in well‐being unfold within individuals, analyses on the within‐person level are required. In this preregistered intensive longitudinal study, 1,709 individuals from the Norwegian adult population provided data daily over 40 consecutive days during the pandemic. The responses were modeled in a multilevel vector autoregressive model to estimate within‐person networks, across and within‐day, and a between‐person network. All three networks revealed productivity, relatedness, and optimism as positively associated. Social distancing was contemporaneously negatively associated with productivity and relatedness. Among behavioral factors, being physically active predicted lower relatedness across days but displayed positive associations with relatedness, productivity, and optimism contemporaneously. Alcohol consumption predicted lower productivity across and within‐day, although revealing a positive association with optimism within‐day. Being social online and feeling related to others displayed a temporal negative bidirectional relationship. In contrast, being social online was positively associated with optimism, productivity, and relatedness contemporaneously. Our study emphasizes the dynamic nature of well‐being and its complex associations with behavioral factors during the pandemic. The study shed light on opposing associations of behavioral factors at the within‐ and between‐person level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: In 2021, infection control guidelines, including those specific to feeding environments, were introduced by the International Olympic and Paralympic Committees to reduce virus transmission at the Tokyo 2020 Summer and Beijing 2022 Winter games. This observational cross‐sectional study aimed to investigate caterers' compliance to these guidelines which included measures for personal hygiene, sanitisation, and physical distancing at these events. Methods: Expert sport dietitians attending Tokyo (n = 15) and Beijing (n = 7) games were surveyed to rate 11 COVID‐19 countermeasures as fully (100%), partially or non‐compliant at nine dining locations across both events. Descriptive analysis of each countermeasure based on observed compliance and location was conducted and reported as a proportion of the total responses. To better understand participant perspectives of the factors influencing compliance, open responses were systematically coded into themes and sub‐themes by researchers through content analysis. Themes generated from participant comments were categorised based on their relevance to specific countermeasures and locations to identify commonalities and disparities in participant experiences, perceptions, and observations. Results: All main dining halls at both events were observed as 100% compliant to countermeasures on more occasions compared with Tokyo's venues and satellite villages. However, Beijing's three main dining halls, showed a greater compliance compared with Tokyo's main dining hall, likely due to overcrowding in Tokyo. Comments suggested that smaller dining spaces, with overcrowding, may have contributed to reduced compliance to physical distancing measures. Food safety concerns were raised about gastrointestinal distress in Beijing due to food cross‐contamination. Conclusion: Findings suggest that the food service environment may influence caterers' abilities to comply with foodservice safety and infection control guidelines. In the post‐pandemic era, enhanced quality control and standardised risk mitigation strategies are needed to improve athletes' health at international sporting events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We urgently need to understand Alzheimer's disease (AD) stigma among Black adults. Black communities bear a disproportionate burden of AD, and recent advances in early diagnosis using AD biomarkers may affect stigma associated with AD. The goal of our study is to characterize AD stigma within our cohort of self-identified Black participants and test how AD biomarker test results may affect this stigma. Design: We surveyed a sample of 1,150 self-identified Black adults who were randomized to read a vignette describing a fictional person, who was described as either having a positive or negative biomarker test result. After reading the vignette, participants completed the modified Family Stigma in Alzheimer's Disease Scale (FS-ADS). We compared FS-ADS scores between groups defined by age, gender, and United States Census region. We examined interactions between these groupings and AD biomarker test result. Results: Participants over age 65 had lower scores (lower stigma) on all 7 FS-ADS domains compared to those under 65: structural discrimination, negative severity attributions, negative aesthetic attributions, antipathy, support, pity, and social distance. In the biomarker positive condition, worries about structural discrimination were greater than in the biomarker negative condition and statistically similar in the two age groups (DOR, 0.39 [95%CI, 0.22–0.69]). This pattern of results was similar for negative symptom attributions (DOR, 0.51 [95%CI, 0.28–0.90]). Conclusion: While older adults reported less AD stigma than younger adults, AD biomarker testing caused similarly high concerns about structural discrimination and negative severity attributions. Thus, use of AD biomarker diagnosis may increase AD stigma and exacerbate healthcare disparities known to effect AD diagnosis in some Black adults. Advances in AD diagnosis may interact with social and structural factors to differentially affect groups of Black adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The COVID‐19 pandemic impacted young people's drinking. Yet, despite social gatherings posing a known risk for increased contraction, some college students still congregated to drink. Furthermore, some students posted about these drinking events to their public and/or private social media feeds. It is crucial to understand the relationships between posting alcohol‐related content (ARC), drinking and adherence to COVID‐19 recommendations because they may have contributed to the spread of the virus. Methods: The current interval contingent, 14‐day diary study assessed students' (N = 129) public and private ARC; their drinking; percentage of time wearing a mask and social distancing; and number of people they socialised with during drinking events (total crowd size) each day. Results: Multilevel structural equation modelling was employed to examine relationships between ARC posting, drinking and behavioural outcomes. On days in which students posted both public and private ARC, they tended to drink more and in turn, reported attending gatherings with larger crowds. Curiously, on days in which students drank more, they indicated more mask wearing and social distancing, and on days in which students posted more private ARC, they also reported larger crowds. Finally, an indirect effect of drinking on the links between public and private ARC and mask wearing, social distancing and total crowd sizes emerged. Discussion and Conclusions: Findings revealed students continued to post and drink socially despite the risks, which may have encouraged others within their networks to engage in similar risky behaviours. Future public health crises should balance young people's need for social connection with risk mitigation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dynamic transmission models are often used to provide epidemiological guidance for pandemic policy decisions. However, how economic evaluation is typically incorporated into this technique to generate cost-effectiveness estimates of pandemic policy responses has not previously been reviewed. Methods: We systematically searched the Embase, PubMed and Scopus databases for dynamic epidemiological modelling studies that incorporated economic evaluation of public health and social measures (PHSMs), with no date restrictions, on 7 July 2024. Results: Of the 2,719 screened studies, 51 met the inclusion criteria. Most studies (n = 42, 82%) modelled SARS-CoV-2. A range of PHSMs were examined, including school closures, testing/screening, social distancing and mask use. Half of the studies utilised an extension of a Susceptible-Exposed-Infectious-Recovered (SEIR) compartmental model. The most common type of economic evaluation was cost-effectiveness analysis (n = 24, 47%), followed by cost-utility analysis (n = 17, 33%) and cost–benefit analysis (n = 17, 33%). Conclusions: Economic evaluation is infrequently incorporated into dynamic epidemiological modelling studies of PHSMs. The scope of this research should be expanded, given the substantial cost implications of pandemic PHSM policy responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For older adolescents, the COVID-19 pandemic and UK restrictions arrived during a critical period in the transition to adulthood. Early research exploring impact of the pandemic paints a picture of worsened adolescent wellbeing and mental health. We explore the subjective experiences of 16- to 19-year-olds during the first UK lockdown, with an emphasis on wellbeing and coping, to complement quantitative evidence and inform strategies and provision for support. In May 2020, we invited UK-based 16- to 19-year-olds to share written accounts of their experiences of the initial UK lockdown for The TELL Study. A total of 109 participants engaged, submitting anonymous written accounts via an online survey portal. We used inductive reflexive thematic analysis to develop rich experiential themes. We constructed seven main themes: heightened emotionality; feelings of loss, change, and uncertainty; recognizing the value of self-care; efforts to think positively; opportunities for relief, growth, and development; the importance of togetherness; and frustration with government and media. Findings highlight the multifaceted nature of adolescents' lockdown experiences, and offer insight into emotional impact and new concerns alongside the value placed on self-care and staying connected. We offer directions for supporting adolescents as pandemic consequences continue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social norms are a promising means in health crisis communication because they can guide collective action to reduce risk. However, recent research on the COVID-19 pandemic suggests that social norms may have not fully supported strategic goals and even contributed to phenomena that hindered risk reduction, calling into question the potential of social norms campaigns. This became most evident during the COVID-19 pandemic in the emergence of alternative norms of measure opposition, stigmatization of norm-deviant individuals, and the issue of free-riding. The article analyzes these phenomena from a social identity and communication perspective and outlines areas for further inquiry in health and crisis communication. The goal is to pave the way for a research agenda dedicated to the dark side of social norms to unlock the full potential of social norms in times of (health) crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research shows social norm perceptions predict people's adherence to COVID-19 preventative health practices. Nonetheless, additional empirical studies are necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of different types of social norm messages on behavioral outcomes with experimental designs. Guided by the social norm literature and frameworks, the current research addresses this need by examining the effects of descriptive and injunctive norm appeals promoting the practice of social distancing and mask-wearing with both a controlled experiment and social media campaigns. Results from this multistudy investigation showed the effectiveness of descriptive and injunctive norm messages (v. no message exposure) in promoting focal behaviors and highlighted the superiority of injunctive norm appeals in promoting behavioral intentions and increasing social media engagement. Theoretical implications and recommendations for practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses disruption to norms of funeral attendance experienced in the UK during the COVID−19 pandemic as a lens to illuminate why and how funeral attendance can matter. It draws on an extensive qualitative dataset, gathered through semi-structured interviews with a diverse sample of 68 individuals who were bereaved and/or worked or volunteered in death care during the COVID−19 pandemic. It first examines interviewees' concerns about the insufficiency of funerals when gatherings were restricted. Second, it depicts the range of additional and alternative ways people found to pay tribute to the deceased and to offer and seek support when conventional funeral attendance was limited. Third, it explains why, for some, the smaller funerals necessitated by pandemic restrictions were welcome experiences. These findings support a development of Bailey and Walter's influential theorising concerning 'configurational eulogies': while a 'well-attended' funeral still matters to many, mourners contribute to configurational eulogies through a diverse and evolving range of activities. The shifts in funeral gatherings and activities prompted by the COVID−19 pandemic can be understood as part of dynamic processes of reconfiguring eulogistic repertoires in changing social contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped the way Americans deal with death and dying. Social distancing restrictions prevented or delayed end of life services for families who lost loved ones to COVID-19. Alternatively, some took to the internet to express their grief through online memorialization. Using content analysis, this study analyzes 200 randomly selected online memorials from the COVID Memorial website, a website created to share the stories of those lost to COVID-19 on social media. Our findings offer insight into memorial author demographics, how memorial authors framed and understood death due to COVID-19, and the COVID-19 pandemic through online memorialization. Two major themes emerged during data analysis, "references to COVID-19 death" and "COVID-specific directives to readers." The former, details how memorial authors framed and understood the death of a loved one to COVID-19. The latter details "advice" or "directives" authors gave to readers about social distancing guidelines and other guidelines meant to prevent the spread of COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• COVID-19 has had a massive impact on quality of life worldwide. • Mask-wearing is a widely accepted non-pharmaceutical intervention, but the effects of social distancing have not been thoroughly evaluated. • This study demonstrates a causal relationship between strictly implemented social distancing and the incidence and exacerbation of asthma. • Social distancing against COVID-19 may suppress asthma incidence and exacerbation. Non-pharmaceutical interventions have been implemented globally to control the COVID-19 pandemic and have been shown to alleviate both allergies and respiratory infections. Although mask-wearing is an accepted non-pharmaceutical intervention, the effects of social distancing have not been thoroughly evaluated. To evaluate the effects of social distancing on asthma trends in Seoul, South Korea. This study included data from the National Health Insurance Service of South Korea, covering approximately 10 million people in Seoul. Daily and monthly data of patients with asthma from 2018 to 2021 were examined, and the degree of social distancing performance was measured using the number of subway users as an index. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to determine the relationship between the two indices. The change-point detection technique, cross-correlation, and Granger causality method were used to assess the temporal causality between social distancing and asthma. The number of patients with asthma decreased by 42.4 % from 2019 to 2020, while that of subway users decreased by 26.3 % during this period. Pearson's correlation analysis revealed significant positive correlations. Asthma and subway users showed a significant change in incidence following the implementation of social distancing; subway users showed a causal relationship with patients with asthma. Our results showed that the number of subway users decreased after the implementation of strict social distancing, coinciding with a decrease in the number of patients with asthma. These findings suggest that social distancing measures implemented to control COVID-19 may reduce the incidence and exacerbation of asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Throughout the recent pandemic, governments used digital video technologies to facilitate social distancing during political meetings. In addition to enabling social distancing, a theoretical advantage of virtual political governance is that it has the potential to mitigate the hierarchical administrative relationship between capitals and regions and the differences in real estate prices and wealth that often follows from such hierarchical structures. However, hardly any governments are currently planning a long‐term transition to work‐from‐home digital governance. On the contrary, several countries are doubling down on the centralization model of government by building new capitals in new locations. This article proposes that in a time of digital alternatives, physically centralized "capitals" could be considered examples of bad equilibrium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: The strict preventive measures implemented globally during the COVID-19 pandemic affected mental health, with most countries reporting a rise in depression and suicide. This study examined factors affecting depression among Korean adults based on quarantine experiences during 2020 and identified key areas for mental health support. Methods: Data were obtained from South Korea's 2020 Community Health Survey. Responses from 219,228 adults (1893 with quarantine experience and 217,335 without) to questions about quarantine experience, depression (Korean version of PHQ-9 score ≥ 10 or a response of 'several days' or more on item 9), and individual/environmental factors were analyzed. Complex sampling analysis, including descriptive statistics and logistic regression, was conducted using SPSS 29.0. Results: This study found that 158 (weighted 7.5%) of those with quarantine experience, and 12,833 (weighted 5.8%) without quarantine experience, reported depression. Regardless of quarantine, being female, having a low income, a history of depression, and increased stress were associated with a higher depression rate, while good subjective health was linked to lower depression rates. Smoking, living-alone, and a lack of sleep among non-quarantined individuals were linked to increased depression risk, while adequate physical activity was linked to reduced risk. Interestingly, alcohol consumption and being overweight (BMI 23–<25) were associated with lower depression rates. Environmental factors, like unmet medical needs and reduced daily activity, were linked to increased depression. Strong social support and social distancing adherence were associated with reduced depression. Conclusions: These findings underscore the importance of targeted interventions considering quarantine experiences to reduce depression during pandemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Social distancing is a key behavior to minimize and controlling COVID-19 infections. The current study applied an integrated Theory of Planned Behavior to identify the determinants of social distancing behavior, and the processes involved, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: a cross-sectional study was conducted in Southern Iran among 1000 people from Shiraz by employing a convenience sampling technique. Data were collected using a pre-tested and structured questionnaire based on the main constructs of the Theory of Planned Behavior. Statistical analysis was done using IBM SPSS software version 22 and Amos version 24. Level of statistical significance was declared at a P-value of less than 0.05. Results: according to the results, the subjective norms (F = 2.696, effect size = 0.139) and attitude (F = 3.582, effect size = 0.155) play an important role in the samples’ PBC (P ≤ 0.05). Final adjusted structural equation model of the effects of independent variables (Gender, subjective norms, attitude) on samples’ intention to adherence social distancing for prevention of Covid-19 with the mediating role of one main variable of PBC. The PBC alone can be an important factor in creating intensive behavior in the samples (F = 3.560, effect size = 0.18). Conclusion: current findings highlight the importance of “attitude, subjective norms and PBC” as determinants of social distancing intention. Future research on long-range predictors of social distancing behavior and reciprocal effects in the integrated model is warranted. This evidence is relevant to public and private organizations in the process of developing strategies to promote and engage the population in adopting the behavior of “Adherence to Social Distancing” in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Affiliation is a basic human need, especially during difficult times. To what extent did the need to affiliate limit our capacity to abide by health guidelines, in particular regarding social distancing, during the COVID-19 pandemic? We investigated this issue using questionnaire data from two samples of the French population collected during the first French lockdown (April-May 2020). We found that in men, higher social comparison orientation (sensitivity to the needs of others and inclination to help) and higher perceived threat increased the frequency of reported affiliative activities. At the same time, men's reported affiliative activities were associated with a lower reported intention to abide by lockdown and protective measures and lower levels of reported compliance. This pattern was not found in women. The women in our samples, as has been observed elsewhere, were largely compliant, potentially precluding any effects of affiliative needs. Basic though they may seem, affiliative needs and reported affiliative activities may have played a significant role in the implementation of sanitary guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 pandemic has raised concerns for a number of strategical social interactions. From quarantines and social distancing to vaccination and geopolitics, the cooperation or even the coordination of efforts has been challenging, as governments, economic sector, institutions, and individuals, often have conflicting interests. Game theory, which is a mathematical tool extensively used in order to determine the outcomes of strategical interactions, has been applied to a number of issues arising from the pandemic. In this paper, 60 publications are analyzed to identify the key contributions of game theory to addressing COVID-19. First, 10 keywords-topic are chosen and each publication is examined to consider if it deals with these topics. Then R package "igraph" and cluster Louvain are used in order to group the papers to 3 clusters. The results indicate that there is a temporal variation in the topics examined. In the beginning the main concern has been coupling the modelling of the transmission of the virus with social distancing responses from the public and quarantining policy. Then the economic implications of the pandemic drew the attention and finally the application of the vaccination campaigns and the cooperation of the individuals with vaccination guidelines. The paper targets on bridging the gap between game theorists and epidemiologists, illustrating how modelling agents interactions can improve responses. The clusters created can help researchers identify groups of problems that can be addressed jointly, using similar approaches. The analysis indicates that game theory can reveal social aspects that can improve the responses to future emergencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid development of vaccines to combat the spread of COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, is a great scientific achievement. Before the development of the COVID-19 vaccines, most studies capitalized on the available data that did not include pharmaceutical measures. Such studies focused on the impact of non-pharmaceutical measures such as social distancing, sanitation, use of face masks, and lockdowns to study the spread of COVID-19. In this study, we used the SIDARTHE-V model, an extension of the SIDARTHE model, which includes vaccination rollouts. We studied the impact of vaccination on the severity of the virus, specifically focusing on death rates, in African countries. The SIRDATHE-V model parameters were extracted by simultaneously fitting the COVID-19 cumulative data of deaths, recoveries, active cases, and full vaccinations reported by the governments of Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Togo, and Zambia. Using South Africa as a case study, our analysis showed that the cumulative death rates declined drastically with the increased extent of vaccination drives. Whilst the infection rates sometimes increased with the arrival of new coronavirus variants, the death rates did not increase as they did before vaccination. Author summary: The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic prompted swift global responses. These included non-pharmaceutical control measures at the beginning of the pandemic such as social distancing, masks, and the later development of vaccines. In our first paper, we studied the evolution of the pandemic in the African continent by fitting the observed data with the SIRDATHE model in the first year (March 2020—March 2021) of the pandemic, before vaccination. We examined the impact of non-pharmaceutical control measures on COVID-19 transmission in the first year of the pandemic. As vaccination campaigns commenced, we extended our model to SIDARTHE-V model, which included the vaccination component. The SIRDATHE-V model assumes total immunity in the vaccinated population. However, our observations revealed breakthrough infections even amongst the vaccinated population. Therefore, in our application of the SIRDATHE-V model, we considered the fact that even the vaccinated could become infected. In this study, we investigated the impact of COVID-19 vaccination in Africa. We analysed COVID-19 data from seven African countries: Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Togo, and Zambia over approximately two years, from March 2020 to March 2022. Considering variations in vaccination programs in each country, for example, the use of different vaccines and different starting dates, this study focused on the impact of vaccination on the death rates. Our findings showed a decline in cumulative death rates due to COVID-19 when vaccination drives were coupled with non-pharmaceutical control measures. We therefore conclude that in combating the spread of acute viral infections with dynamics similar to COVID-19, a comprehensive strategy involving both pharmaceutical (vaccination) and non-pharmaceutical (social measures) interventions is crucial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To discuss the opportunities and challenges of the qualitative solicited diary approach using digital technologies as an innovative way to access insights into people's lives and their unique stories in times of COVID-19-related social distancing in Switzerland. Methods: This case study provides reflective arguments from a social science perspective for the selection of different (digital) diary designs to optimize data collection in the SNSFfunded project "PubliCo - an experimental online platform for COVID-19-related public perception." Results: The findings highlight some opportunities of using (digital) diaries, such as empowering participants, gathering real-time data, and ethical and methodological challenges when it comes to gaining access to alternative narratives. Conclusion: To gain in-depth insights during a crisis and to reach the lesser-heard voices that are central to democratic debates, it is necessary to adapt data gathering methods and build trust with diverse communities. While digital technologies open up new possibilities for public engagement, there is a need to think critically how data gathering is approached, how trustworthy the results are, and whose voices are captured, amplified, or left out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to contagious pathogens can result in behavioural changes, which can alter the spread of infectious diseases. Healthy individuals can express generalized social distancing or avoid the sources of infection, while infected individuals can show passive or active self-isolation. Amphibians are globally threatened by contagious diseases, yet their behavioural responses to infections are scarcely known. We studied behavioural changes in agile frog (Rana dalmatina) juveniles upon exposure to a Ranavirus (Rv) using classic choice tests. We found that both non-infected and Rv-infected focal individuals spatially avoided infected conspecifics, while there were no signs of generalized social distancing, nor self-isolation. Avoidance of infected conspecifics may effectively hinder disease transmission, protecting non-infected individuals as well as preventing secondary infections in already infected individuals. On the other hand, the absence of self-isolation by infected individuals may facilitate it. Since infection status did not affect the time spent near conspecifics, it is unlikely that the pathogen manipulated host behaviour. More research is urgently needed to understand under what circumstances behavioural responses can help amphibians cope with infections, and how that affects disease dynamics in natural populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social media data are increasingly used to assess public opinion dynamics and develop sustainable regional tourism policies. This study explored the changes in travel patterns and preferences in Gangwon Province before, during, and after the implementation of social distancing measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Five hundred and twenty-six YouTube videos related to travel in Gangwon Province were collected using NodeXL, and content and statistical analyses were conducted on travel regions, main activities, and viewers' reactions. The main findings indicated that as the intensity of social distancing measures increased, the activity of YouTube video creators also increased, particularly in the East Coast region, compared with other locations such as mountains, rivers, and traditional markets. Viewer engagement was the highest during the implementation of social distancing, showing a considerable interest in beach travel. These results have significant implications for planning safe travel during crises such as COVID-19 and for local governments to promote a responsible travel environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic presented a series of challenges to organizations. Among those that successfully continued operating, the subsequent recovery period catalyzed pressure to redefine work structure after social distancing restrictions lifted. Here, we observed the benefits of transformational leadership in this historically unique context of organizational distress by applying an adjusted version of Ashkanasy and Dorris's (Ashkanasy and Dorris in Annu Rev Organ Psych Organ Behav 4:67–90, 2017) framework for workplace emotions to a large, multi-campus university. We quantitatively content-analyzed semi-structured interviews of more than 300 divisional leaders and their staff from across the organization. Interviews occurred in the months following the first semester of continuous in-person service delivery, when most employees returned to working in employer-operated space. Despite disproportionate emphasis on negative and self-focused emotions, negative emotions clustered in individuals' empathic recognition of others' emotions; though efforts to regulate those emotions proved scant. Positive emotions primarily emerged in response to local leadership efforts to mitigate the negative emotions of students, staff, and faculty. This data pattern suggests that individuals experienced negative emotions, recognized others' negative emotions, and appreciated leaders' interventions to ameliorate those negative emotions. Strategies reminiscent of transformational leadership therefore productively addressed the negative impact of workplace stress imposed by the pandemic, helping to facilitate compliance and enthusiasm with return-to-work efforts. The findings thus illustrate how a transformational style of leadership can address individuals' negative experiences during a period of pronounced existential stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis study developed a theoretical framework to understand outdoor event attendees’ psychological mechanisms associated with the adoption of pro-social behavior. The theory of planned behavior, the norm activation model, personal values, perceived knowledge and threats were all merged to formulate the framework, using Chinese outdoor event attendees after the outbreak of COVID-19 as survey participants. The results showed that attitude toward social distancing behavior, subjective norms, awareness of consequences, ascribed responsibility, personal norms, self-transcendent value, knowledge of the pandemic, and perceived threat had effects on activating pro-social intentions for social distancing practices. This study also provided implications for the theoretical expansion of predicting pro-social behavior and for the practical management of social distancing practices at outdoor events in the COVID-19 era. The limitations of the current study and suggestions for future research are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic had a devastating impact, especially on many older individuals. Outbreaks significantly affected accessibility and community engagement, making it challenging to maintain social connections with family, friends, and society. Social distancing measures and lockdown restrictions have been linked to challenges in physical and mental health, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive strategies that can alleviate the pandemic's impact and foster meaningful social connections, particularly for older adults experiencing age-related cognitive changes (ACC). In response, an online mindful movement approach (MMA) targeting loneliness and psychological wellbeing in older adults experiencing ACC (n = 16) was implemented. This paper presents a comparative analysis highlighting two case studies derived from the parent study, examining the impact of the online MMA for older adults experiencing ACC. Thematic analysis was employed to analyze the two cases. The participants reported a decrease in loneliness along with notable improvements in self-awareness, mood, and social connectedness. Additionally, they experienced an enhancement in their mindfulness practice and discovered new ways to use movement to enhance their well-being. The findings suggested that online MMA offered an alternative platform that can provide physical and psychosocial health benefits to older adults experiencing ACC during the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During Covid-19, most in-person intergenerational service-learning programs were halted or transitioned to virtual formats due to social-distancing guidelines. This study qualitatively examined in-person and virtual versions of the Lives Well Lived program, which matches older adults (OAs) with undergraduate students to participate in a mutual interviewing, life review project. Post-test data from open-ended questions were analyzed to compare themes regarding program outcomes. Recognition of OA interindividual differences, intergenerational relationship's value, and decreased fear of aging themes developed in both program versions but there were also differences. Participants in the virtual version regretted not engaging in person, did not mention altruism/empathy, expressed appreciation of peer relationships in addition to OA relationships, and disliked writing reflection papers. Recommendations are given for ensuring similar learning outcomes when engaging in virtual programming, whether due to COVID-19 or in additional situations to pandemics, such as rural settings, lack of transportation/mobility, or time limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical activity (PA) is a critical factor in maintaining mental health, particularly among college students who are vulnerable to stress, anxiety, and mood disturbances. The COVID‐19 pandemic introduced unprecedented disruptions to daily routines. The purpose of this cohort study was to examine the longitudinal PA behaviors before and during COVID‐19 using device‐based assessment in a sample of college students. The participants were a convenience sample of 1‐year college students from the University of Vermont Wellness Environment study. A daily survey was distributed to the participants every night on a study app measured three mental health outcomes of mood, anxiety, and stress for 16 weeks. Participants wore Apple Watches to monitor PA. A total of 167 participants completed at least 50% of daily surveys and had 20 days of valid Apple Watch data, which resulted in 11 387 participant‐days' of observations. Changes in average daily moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and step counts were examined week‐over‐week from an 8‐week period before COVID to an 8‐week period during COVID using cluster‐robust piecewise regression (16‐weeks total). Linear mixed models examined the association between PA and mental health outcomes, while also examining the moderating influence of COVID phase. Significantly lower MVPA was observed from the end of pre‐COVID to start of COVID by −18.2 min/day (p < 0.001) and significantly fewer steps/day was observed from end of pre‐COVID to start of COVID by −3277 steps/day (p < 0.001). An MVPA "catch‐up" effect was observed as there were small but positive week‐over‐week improvements during COVID for MVPA (b = 1.32 min/day, p < 0.001). The influence of COVID‐19 phases had a notable impact on the relationships between PA/exercise and mental health outcomes. A discernible trend emerged, indicating stronger connections during the COVID period for anxiety and stress compared to the pre‐COVID era. Interestingly, the moderating effect of COVID was opposite for mood and exercise. The COVID‐19 pandemic led to a dramatic decline in PA among college students, coinciding with a period of heightened stress and anxiety. Despite a slight recovery in PA levels during the pandemic, the strengthened association between exercise and anxiety/stress during this time underscores the vital role of PA in promoting mental health. These findings highlight the importance of implementing behavior change strategies to maintain and promote student wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Design Methods Results Conclusions Physical distancing and handwashing can be important infection prevention measures during an infectious disease outbreak such as the COVID‐19 pandemic. To stimulate these behaviours, knowledge of psychosocial determinants as well as contextual factors is vital. We present longitudinal, within‐person analyses of the impact of contextual and psychosocial factors on handwashing and distancing behaviour.We used individual‐level data (186,490 participants completing 971,899 surveys) from the Corona Behavioural Unit COVID‐19 Cohort, a dynamic cohort study conducted during 26 months of the COVID‐19 pandemic in the Netherlands.Fixed‐effects models were employed to estimate within‐person associations between psychosocial factors and behaviour, combined with main and moderating effects of contextual factors.Pandemic severity was associated with more handwashing and distancing behaviour, while the duration of the pandemic had little effect. Within‐person changes in response efficacy were most relevant for changes in both handwashing and distancing behaviour, while self‐efficacy, descriptive norms and perceived severity of infecting others affected behaviour indirectly. These effects were stable over time. Associations were larger in cross‐sectional models, indicating that such models tend to overestimate effects.Our study highlights the importance of longitudinal data and within‐person models to detect possible causal associations. The results suggest that during an outbreak, government and public health professionals should clearly communicate the severity of the pandemic (e.g., hospitalization rates) and the effectiveness of recommended prevention measures in reducing that risk; and seek to improve people's capabilities and opportunities to adhere to guidelines, for example, by modifying the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The causal effect of successive population-wide lockdowns in response to increased COVID-19 cases on mental health has yet to be examined using robust methods. A natural experiment design underpinned by objective data can improve our understanding surrounding the definitive impact of social distancing restrictions. Methods: The study employed a natural experiment design underpinned by objective data. Health service cost for visits to general practitioners and psychologists and medication dispensing costs served as objective measures of mental health. Difference-in-difference (DID) estimators, which in this study quantify differences in spending changes between groups over time, were produced based on three comparisons: Victoria 2020 lockdown comparison, Victoria 2021 lockdown comparison, and New South Wales (NSW) 2021 lockdown comparison. Specifically, differences in public health service spending during lockdown periods and the same timeframe in 2019 for Victoria and NSW, and control groups (remaining states and territories), were compared. Results: Positive estimator values indicate that public health service spending for Victoria and NSW increased more during lockdown periods compared to control states and territories. The Victorian lockdowns of 2020 and 2021, but not the NSW lockdown of 2021, resulted in increased public spending for general practitioner mental health consults (2020 DID estimator: $8498.96 [95% CI $4012.84, $12,373.57], 2021 DID estimator: $6630.06 [95% CI $41.27, $13,267.20], all monetary values in AUD$) and short visits to psychologists (2020 DID estimator: $628.82 [95% CI $466.25, $796.00], 2021 DID estimator: $230.11 [95% CI $47.52, $373.98]). The first Victorian lockdown in 2020 and the NSW lockdown in 2021 resulted in greater spending on short visits to clinical psychologists. Spending on long visits to psychologists and clinical psychologists and medication spending did not change. Conclusions: Strict lockdowns can have an adverse impact on population mental health. The impact is particularly evident in those who have a history of previous mental health concerns but does not necessitate extra use of medications, suggesting that psychological care can address the adverse impact of the lockdowns. What is known about the topic? Previous research varied in methodology, using self-reports and healthcare data to understand COVID-19 social distancing public health measures' effects on mental health. What does this paper add? This study introduces robust, objective data via a natural experiment design, examining the impact of successive lockdowns on mental health service usage and medication expenditures in specific Australian regions. What are the implications for practitioners? Findings highlight the need for flexible mental health services that can swiftly respond to increased demands during prolonged restrictions, without necessarily increasing medication use, guiding future policy and resource allocation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The importance of holidays, traditions, and family celebrations to human culture and occupational engagement has been neglected. The aim of this study was to explore how older adults experienced holidays and celebrations with social and physical distancing during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Methods: A secondary analysis was made on data from the At‐Risk Study. Seventeen community‐living adults (11 women and 6 men) aged 71–87 years, from Sweden participated. They were interviewed remotely four times during the first year of the pandemic. Data were analysed with qualitative content analysis. No consumer/community involvement occurred. Findings: Three categories on how the participants hoped for, planned, decided, adapted, avoided, and experienced holidays and celebrations with social and physical distancing included expectations and preparations in unpredictable times; the constant need for re‐evaluation; and almost everything turned out differently. Conclusions: The desire to celebrate despite pandemic restrictions shows the importance and meaning holidays hold for older adults. Celebrations can be disrupted for many reasons, not only as extreme as the ongoing pandemic. For wellbeing in later life health care, social care, and society need to understand the inherent components and acknowledge ways of supporting participation in occasional events such as holidays, traditions, and family celebrations. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: Research on the importance of engaging in holidays, traditions, and family celebrations has been limited. Clinical occupational therapists and occupational science researchers tend to focus more on activities of daily living than on activities of life. This study investigated how older adults experienced holidays and celebrations with social and physical distancing during the COVID‐19 pandemic. We revisited data from a previous study called the At‐Risk Study. Seventeen community‐living older adults living in Sweden, ranging from 71 to 87 years old, took part. They were interviewed remotely four times during the first year of the pandemic. Data were analysed with qualitative content analysis. We identified three main themes on how the participants hoped for, planned, decided, adapted, avoided, and experienced holidays and celebrations with social and physical distancing. They were expectations and preparations in unpredictable times; the constant need for re‐evaluation; and almost everything turned out differently. This study shows the broad variety in reasoning and acting in relation to holidays, traditions, and family celebrations under social and physical distancing. However, the desire to celebrate despite pandemic restrictions shows the importance and meaning holidays hold for older adults. Celebrations can be disrupted for many reasons (including health issues) and not all barriers will be as extreme as an ongoing pandemic. To promote wellbeing in later life society, health care, and occupational therapists need to recognise the inherent components and acknowledge ways of supporting participation also in occasional events such as holidays, traditions, and family celebrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]