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The ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with psychotic disorders have been previously documented by the authors of this study. The aim of study is to investigate whether the effects of the pandemic continued among the same cohort of patients with psychotic disorders who participated in the initial study. 232 of the 255 participants in the initial study participated in this follow-up study. The assessment covered sociodemographic data, changes in physical and mental health since the pandemic, new diagnoses of physical illnesses, smoking, medication adherence, suicidal behavior. The body weight of the patients before, during, and after the pandemic was 77.6 ± 13.1,81.3 ± 14.1,and 83.1 ± 14.3, respectively and there was increase in BW in the post-pandemic compared to before the pandemc and the during the pandemic (Z: - 8.658, p < 0.001, r: -0.57; Z: −6.852, p < 0.001, r: ‐0.45 respectively). The mean number of cigarettes smoked daily by the patient's before the pandemic, during the pandemic, and after the pandemic was 11.1 ± 14.2,14.9 ± 16.2,and 12.9 ± 14.9, respectively. There was a decrease in the number of cigarettes smoked daily in the post-pandemic compared to the during the pandemic (Z: −4753, p < 0.001, r: −0.45). Both suicidal ideations and attempts were significantly higher during the pandemic compared to after the pandemic (p < 0.001,p < 0.001). Medication adherence in the post-pandemic period was not different compared to the pandemic levels (Z: −0.621, p:0.535). The study confirmed the continuation of adverse outcomes noted previously, such as increased body weight, increased daily cigarette consumption, and diminished medication adherence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Psychotherapie im Alter is the property of Psychosozial-Verlag 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.)

RationaleOver 11 million people in the United States provide care for an older family member with dementia, with this responsibility primarily falling on daughters and wives. In Appalachia, a mountainous region in the U.S characterized by close families, family members were crucial to ensuring that care needs were met for people living with dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we know little about the well-being of family caregivers during the public health crisis. Guided by a Limited Future Time Perspective postulate, which posits that as people age they begin to prioritize emotionally meaningful relationships over instrumental goals, we asked how dementia caregiving changes the social lives of family caregivers situated within kin networks; and how a public health crisis (i.e., COVID-19 pandemic) affects caregivers who are already at risk for social isolation and feelings of loneliness.MethodsParticipants were recruited from a regional health care system and four Area Agencies on Aging. In our longitudinal study we invited family caregivers to be interviewed at multiple time points over a 4-year period. The sample for this study was women caregivers interviewed (N = 27; age range 32–81, m = 63). Interviewers followed a semi-structured protocol with questions designed to elicit descriptions about (a) changes in formal and informal support over time, (b) the person living with dementia's symptoms and disease progression, and (c) how the pandemic affected caregivers’ and persons living with dementia's social worlds.FindingsWe found three types of caregivers: (1) caregivers who had social lives interdependent with their relative with dementia, (2) caregivers and persons living with dementia whose social lives were restricted due to dementia symptoms and caregiving demands, and (3) caregivers and their relative living with dementia who maintained separate social lives. Dementia symptoms more than social distancing measures contributed to caregivers’ shrinking social worlds particularly for those with interdependent social lives despite living amongst kin.ConclusionsThis study is important in understanding how women in Appalachia fared during a pandemic in the context of dementia caregiving. This research supports the need for respite services and dementia care training for respite workers.

IntroductionA direct causal link between Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) and COVID-19 is unproven, although current data suggest a plausible association.AimThis study aims to map and analyze the intersection of research on sudden cardiac death and COVID-19 through a comprehensive bibliometric analysis.MethodologyThis study searched the literature by applying the keywords “COVID-19” AND “Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD)”. Literature retrieved using the above keywords and published were included with a time limit from 1st January 2020 to 8th Aug 2024.ResultsThe bibliometric analysis of COVID-19 and Sudden Cardiac Death highlights key research trends from 2020 to 2024, revealing a rapid surge in scientific output during the pandemic. 2,915 articles were retrieved, with 70.5% being original research, reflecting a strong focus on new empirical evidence. The peak in publications occurred in 2021, driven by the urgent need to understand the cardiovascular implications of COVID-19. However, a decline in publications and citations in subsequent years suggests a shift in research priorities and a potential saturation in initial research areas. Leading institutions like Harvard Medical School, Mayo Clinic, and the University of Pennsylvania played a significant role, with the U.S., China, and the U.K. being top contributors. Despite fewer publications, China's research had a notable impact, indicated by high average citations per article. Keyword analysis identified “COVID-19” and “SARS-CoV-2” as dominant themes, with related terms like myocarditis and heart failure reflecting major cardiovascular concerns. Co-citation analysis revealed seminal works that shaped the discourse, with influential articles by Xu Z et al. and Guo T et al. frequently cited. The collaborative nature of research, especially among top institutions and countries like the U.S., Italy, and the U.K., was evident in network analyses. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the research landscape, highlighting significant contributions, emerging themes, and future research directions in understanding and mitigating the cardiovascular impacts of COVID-19.

Affective polarization, the strong feeling of animosity toward the supporters of the opposite party is rising in Europe. Several studies have examined the impact of ideological extremity and partisanship as a social identity on the rise of affective polarization. However, the impact of policy preferences on affective polarization remains relatively unexplored. I am at filling this gap by examining how preferences towards measures taken at addressing both the economic and the health crises impact affective polarization. Using newly collected data from Greece, a country with historically high levels of affective polarization, the analysis reveals that both policies have an impact of affective polarization but there are asymmetries on how policy preferences influence it. For the supporters of the governing conservative party, affective polarization appears to be policy-driven, whereas for the supporters of the opposition, the populist left-wing party SYRIZA, it is predominantly ideology-driven. Interestingly, the supporters of the governing party continue to align with the pro-memorandum stance even in the absence of an actual memorandum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) played a crucial role in streamlining testing and diagnosis, formulating guidelines, and devising management strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, ICMR designed and developed a comprehensive data management tool for collecting testing data in a standardized format from all laboratories across the country. The current report is a retrospective analysis of the testing data generated by the ICMR. The study's main objectives are to understand the probability of a person testing negative based on their age after an initial positive test and to assess the varied impact and duration of the disease in people of different age groups and genders. Methods: Anonymized data on the testing for COVID were analyzed. The P-to-P is the longest time interval between two consecutive positive tests for a patient without any negative test in between the positives. P-to-Plast is the time between the first positive and last positive test, as opposed to P-to-P, here we are looking at the first and last positive tests that might or might not be consecutive. P-to-N intervals is the time between the first positive and first negative test of a patient. Results: India conducted 170,914,170 tests during the study-period (until December 29, 2020). After excluding invalid test results and duplicates, there were 11,101,603 (6.5%) positive and 156,542,352 (93.5%) negative test-results performed upon 150,086,257 unique individuals. A negative-report following a positive-test was available in 12.69%. Nearly three-fourths of the cases (78.29%) belonged to the working-age group (18-60 years). The proportion of patients >50 years old has risen from 26.06 to 35.03%, with a steep rise beyond September 2020. Gender-ratio among the positives was 1.73:1 which was neutral in neonates < 7-days (age). The gender ratio was skewed in-favor-of males in the initial months with a reverse trend thereafter and with increasing age of patients. The mean P-to-P, P-to-Plast, and P-to-N durations were 12.7 + 4.3, 13.3 + 4.6, and 14.2 + 4.9 days for individuals with P-to-P duration of 1-4 weeks. The probability of testing negative was 82 & 85% at 14 & 21 days after the first-positive-test respectively with no gender bias. Conclusions: The current study has highlighted some vital aspects of COVID-19 epidemiology in India. This study will add to the current understanding of the virus in the absence of pre-existing information on the novel virus and the disease per se. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article, titled "Editorial: Boredom: the elephant in the room," explores the concept of boredom and its potential social effects. The authors discuss how the COVID-19 lockdowns led to an increase in domestic violence, which they attribute to pandemic boredom. However, they also acknowledge that boredom can have positive outcomes, such as fostering creativity and artistic expression. The article includes various perspectives on boredom, including its relationship to violence, education, and societal impacts. The authors suggest that supporting creative activities could be a way to prevent boredom-related harm. [Extracted from the article]

This document is an editorial published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology, discussing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on work patterns and the absence from work. It acknowledges the different experiences of workers during the pandemic, including those who worked from home, front-line workers, and those who stayed home while sick. The document also mentions that the journal received and reviewed 34 papers on this topic, with 19 being accepted for publication, covering various aspects of the pandemic's impact on workers. The editorial expresses gratitude to the authors and reviewers for their contributions to the research topic. Additionally, there is an acknowledgment and declaration of conflict of interest from the authors, stating that the research was conducted without any commercial or financial conflicts of interest. The publisher emphasizes that the claims expressed in the article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of their affiliated organizations or the publisher, and they do not endorse any products or claims made by manufacturers mentioned in the article. [Extracted from the article]

Affective polarization, the strong feeling of animosity toward the supporters of the opposite party is rising in Europe. Several studies have examined the impact of ideological extremity and partisanship as a social identity on the rise of affective polarization. However, the impact of policy preferences on affective polarization remains relatively unexplored. I am at filling this gap by examining how preferences towards measures taken at addressing both the economic and the health crises impact affective polarization. Using newly collected data from Greece, a country with historically high levels of affective polarization, the analysis reveals that both policies have an impact of affective polarization but there are asymmetries on how policy preferences influence it. For the supporters of the governing conservative party, affective polarization appears to be policy-driven, whereas for the supporters of the opposition, the populist left-wing party SYRIZA, it is predominantly ideology-driven. Interestingly, the supporters of the governing party continue to align with the pro-memorandum stance even in the absence of an actual memorandum.

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic brought changes in the pattern of care use. A significant increase in the volume of emergencies was expected. However, a significant decrease was observed worldwide.MethodsAn observational, analytical and cross-sectional study of all records of emergency episodes of patients aged 18 years or older admitted to the emergency services of the University of Porto Hospital Centre (2018–2022) were analysed.ResultsDuring the pandemic, a significant reduction in emergency episode admissions (up to 40% during lockdowns), an increase in pre-emergency services, and discharges from Infectious Diseases and Internal Medicine was observed. The discharges from General Practice and General Practice and Family Medicine were residual.ConclusionThe lower use and type of use of emergency services during the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the disease burden. This could be prevented in future pandemics through the development of strategies to promote confidence in the use of health resources and establishing contingency plans for virtual assistance.

Copyright of Revista Foco (Interdisciplinary Studies Journal) is the property of Revista Foco 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.)

BackgroundThe uncertainties surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic led to a surge in non-urgent emergency department (ED) attendance among people presenting with upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) symptoms. These non-urgent visits, often manageable in primary care, exacerbated ED overcrowding, which could compromise the quality of ED services. Understanding patients' expectations and the reasons for these ED visits is imperative to mitigate the problem of ED overcrowding. Hence, we assessed the factors influencing patients' expectations for diagnostic tests during their ED visits for uncomplicated URTI during different phases of the pandemic.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study on adults with URTI symptoms seeking care at four public EDs in Singapore between March 2021 and March 2022. We segmented the study period into three COVID-19 pandemic phases—containment, transition, and mitigation. The outcome variables are whether patients expected (1) a COVID-19-specific diagnostic test, (2) a non-COVID-19-specific diagnostic test, (3) both COVID-19-specific and non-COVID-19-specific diagnostic tests, or (4) no diagnostic test. We built a multinomial regression model with backward stepwise selection and classified the findings according to Andersen's healthcare utilization model.ResultsThe mean age of participants was 34.5 (12.7) years. Factors (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval]) influencing expectations for a COVID-19-specific diagnostic test in the ED include younger age {21–40 years: (2.98 [1.04–8.55])}, no prior clinical consultation (2.10 [1.13–3.89]), adherence to employer's health policy (3.70 [1.79–7.67]), perceived non-severity of illness (2.50 [1.39–4.55]), being worried about contracting COVID-19 (2.29 [1.11–4.69]), and during the transition phase of the pandemic (2.29 [1.15–4.56]). Being non-employed influenced the expectation for non-COVID-19-specific diagnostic tests (3.83 [1.26–11.66]). Factors influencing expectations for both COVID-19-specific and non-COVID-19-specific tests include younger age {21–40 years: (3.61 [1.26–10.38]); 41–60 years: (4.49 [1.43–14.13])}, adherence to employer's health policy (2.94 [1.41–6.14]), being worried about contracting COVID-19 (2.95 [1.45– 5.99]), and during the transition (2.03 [1.02–4.06]) and mitigation (2.02 [1.03–3.97]) phases of the pandemic.ConclusionPatients' expectations for diagnostic tests during ED visits for uncomplicated URTI were dynamic across the COVID-19 pandemic phases. Expectations for COVID-19-specific diagnostic tests for ED visits for uncomplicated URTI were higher among younger individuals and those worried about contracting COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Future studies are required to enhance public communications on the availability of diagnostic services in primary care and public education on self-management of emerging infectious diseases such as COVID-19.

There is a growing interest in delivering videoconferencing psychotherapy (VCP) due to the enormous impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our lives since the beginning of severe restrictions worldwide in March 2020. Scientific literature has provided interesting results about the transition to remote sessions and its implications, considering different psychotherapy orientations. Less is known about whether and how VCP affects psychodynamic psychotherapeutic approaches and reports on remote work with severe and complex mental health problems such as severe personality disorders are still scarce. The aim of the study was to examine the experiences of psychodynamic psychotherapists, mainly delivering Transference-Focused Psychotherapy (TFP), with the transition and delivery of VCP during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Four hundred seventy-nine licensed psychotherapists completed an online survey during the peak of the pandemic. Survey data were analyzed using qualitative analysis. Results are presented and discussed concerning advantages and disadvantages regarding the access to psychotherapy, the specificity of the online video setting, bodily aspects, the quality of the therapeutic relationship, the therapeutic process including technical aspects and therapist's experience. Furthermore, we analyzed and discussed the statements concerning transference and countertransference reactions differentiating between high-level borderline and neurotic patients and low-level borderline patients. Our results support the importance to identify patients who potentially benefit from VCP. Further research including more prospective randomized controlled trials are needed to investigate the therapeutic implications of the findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic and infection control measures caused changes to daily life for most people. Heavy alcohol consumption and physical inactivity are two important behavioral risk factors for noncommunicable diseases worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic, with its social distancing measures, home office policies, isolation, and quarantine requirements may have an impact on these factors. This three-wave longitudinal study aims to investigate if psychological distress and worries related to health and economy were associated with levels and changes in alcohol consumption and physical activity during the two first years of the COVID-19 pandemic in Norway. Methods: We used data collected in April 2020, January 2021, and January 2022 from an online longitudinal population-based survey. Alcohol consumption and physical activity status were assessed at all three measuring points via the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT-C) and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-SF). COVID-19-related worries, home office/study, occupational situation, age, gender, children below 18 years living at home, and psychological distress (measured with the Symptom Checklist (SCL-10)) were included as independent variables in the model. A mixed model regression was used and presented with coefficients with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: Analysis of data from 25,708 participants demonstrates that participants with substantial symptoms of psychological distress more often reported higher alcohol consumption (1.86 units/week, CI 1.48-2.24) and lower levels of physical activity [-1,043 Metabolic Equivalents of Task (METs) per week, CI -1,257;-828] at baseline. Working/studying from home (0.37 units/week, CI 0.24-0.50) and being male (1.57 units/week, CI 1.45-1.69) were associated with higher alcohol consumption. Working/studying from home (-536 METs/week, CI -609;-463), and being older than 70 years (-503 METs/week, CI -650;-355) were related to lower levels of physical activity. The differences in activity levels between those with the highest and lowest levels of psychological distress reduced over time (239 METs/week, CI 67;412), and similarly the differences in alcohol intake reduced over time among those having and not having children < 18 years (0.10 units/week, CI 0.01-0.19). Conclusion: These findings highlight the substantial increases in risks related to inactivity and alcohol consumption among those with high levels of psychological distress symptoms, and particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and increase the understanding of factors associated with worries and health behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Child attention skills are critical for supporting self-regulation abilities, especially during the first years of life. On the other hand, inattention symptoms in preschoolers have been associated with poor school readiness, literacy skills and academic achievement. Previous research has linked excessive screen time with increased inattention symptoms in early childhood. However, most research has only focused on TV exposure and did not investigate this association during the COVID-19 pandemic. This atypical context has increased screen time in children worldwide, including preschoolers. We hypothesize that higher levels of child screen media and parenting stress at age 3.5 will be associated with higher child inattention symptoms at age 4.5. Method: This study draws on participants followed longitudinally over the span of 2-years for an investigation of Canadian preschoolers' screen media use during the pandemic (N = 315, 2020). A follow-up with this sample was completed in 2021 (N = 264). Results: Analyses using multiple linear regression, revealed a positive association between child screen time at age 3.5 and inattention symptoms at 4.5 years. Parental stress was also positively associated with child inattention symptoms. Associations were observed above individual (child age, inhibitory control, and sex) and family (parent education and family income) characteristics. Discussion: These results confirmed our hypothesis and highlight that preschooler screen use and parenting stress may undermine attentional skills. Since attention is a crucial component for children development, behavior and academic outcomes, our study reinforces the importance for parents of adopting healthy media habits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns is likely to have caused adverse changes in lifestyle-related/cardiovascular risk factors and other such modifiable risk factors of dementia. We aimed to examine the pandemic’s impact on some modifiable risk factors of dementia among rural Indians belonging to a large, prospective aging cohort—Srinivaspura Aging, NeuoSenescence, and COGnition (SANSCOG). Methods: This was a cross-sectional study among adults aged ≥ 45 years (n = 3,148; 1,492 males and 1,656 females) residing in the villages of Srinivaspura in Karnataka state, India. SANSCOG study data (clinical and biochemical assessments) of these participants were obtained from three distinct periods: (i) the “pre-COVID period”—before India’s nationwide lockdown on 24 March 2020, (ii) the “COVID period”—during the first and second waves of the pandemic, wherein the social restrictions were prominent (25 March 2020 to 30 September 2021), and (iii) the “post-COVID period”—after easing of restrictions (from 1 October 2021 onward). Proportions of participants with diabetes, hypertension, obesity, dyslipidemia (diagnosed using standard criteria), and depression (diagnosed using the Geriatric Depression Scale) were compared between the above three periods. Results: The odds of having obesity, abnormal triglycerides, and depression among individuals in the COVID period were 1.42 times, 1.38 times, and 2.65 times more than the odds in the pre-COVID period, respectively. The odds of having hypertension, obesity, abnormal total cholesterol, abnormal triglycerides, abnormal LDL, and depression among individuals in the post-COVID period were 1.27 times, 1.32 times, 1.58 times, 1.95, 1.23, and 3.05 times more than the odds in the pre-COVID period, respectively. The odds of diabetes did not differ between any of the three periods. Discussion: We found significantly higher odds of some of the studied risk factors in the COVID and post-COVID periods compared to the pre-COVID period, suggesting that the pandemic adversely impacted the physical and psychological health of this marginalized, rural Indian population. We call for urgent public health measures, such as multimodal, lifestyle-based, and psychosocial interventions, to mitigate this negative impact and reduce the future risk of dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to explore how metaphors were used to interpret the pandemic and to address its challenges in primary and secondary schools in Reggio Emilia, Italy. A questionnaire was administered to educators and teachers to understand how languages, images, and metaphors were used by themselves and their students to talk about the pandemic and their experiences of living with it. The goal of the questionnaire was to guide critical reflection and encourage more informed language choices. While the existing literature points out the alleged overuse of war metaphors and military frames in public discourse, our findings show that war metaphors are relatively frequent, with other metaphorical frames widely used by teachers and educators to foster resilient attitudes in students. Moreover, in their professional contexts, teachers and educators mostly use metaphorical frames involving resilient attitudes. Our interpretation of the results supports the hypothesis that the purposeful use and deliberate production of metaphors support the choice of metaphors with positive, constructive implications. Finally, some implications of these findings on the theory of metaphor and the methodology of the research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a growing interest in delivering videoconferencing psychotherapy (VCP) due to the enormous impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our lives since the beginning of severe restrictions worldwide in March 2020. Scientific literature has provided interesting results about the transition to remote sessions and its implications, considering different psychotherapy orientations. Less is known about whether and how VCP affects psychodynamic psychotherapeutic approaches and reports on remote work with severe and complex mental health problems such as severe personality disorders are still scarce. The aim of the study was to examine the experiences of psychodynamic psychotherapists, mainly delivering Transference-Focused Psychotherapy (TFP), with the transition and delivery of VCP during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Four hundred seventy-nine licensed psychotherapists completed an online survey during the peak of the pandemic. Survey data were analyzed using qualitative analysis. Results are presented and discussed concerning advantages and disadvantages regarding the access to psychotherapy, the specificity of the online video setting, bodily aspects, the quality of the therapeutic relationship, the therapeutic process including technical aspects and therapist’s experience. Furthermore, we analyzed and discussed the statements concerning transference and countertransference reactions differentiating between high-level borderline and neurotic patients and low-level borderline patients. Our results support the importance to identify patients who potentially benefit from VCP. Further research including more prospective randomized controlled trials are needed to investigate the therapeutic implications of the findings.

BackgroundHealthcare workers have been identified as being at risk of occupational voice disorders. Among them, nurses working in intensive care units (ICUs) are particularly vulnerable due to the risk factors that are associated with their exposure to high levels of noise. Thus, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of voice disorders among ICU nurses.MethodsA questionnaire was administered to 100 ICU nurses from four hospitals in China. The questionnaire assessed vocal-related symptoms, perceived voice handicap, frequently heard noise sources, and the quality of communications.ResultsResults indicate that the most frequently reported voice symptoms were ‘voice tiredness’ and ‘voiceless’. Nurses working more than 50 h per week experienced voice symptoms more frequently than nurses working for 40–50 h per week. The median value of the perceived voice handicap score (VHI-30) was 23, indicating mild voice handicap, while 24% of the nurses reported severe voice handicap. Longer working hours and working at patient wards were significantly associated with higher VHI-30 scores. The nurses also reported that the quality of verbal communication with patients and colleagues and voice problems worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic.ConclusionMore than 20% of nurses reported severe voice handicap, however, voice handicap among ICU nurses did not appear universally to all nurses. Further research is necessary to identify the risk factors associated with voice disorders and the mechanism behind such heterogeneity among ICU nurses.

BackgroundPeople incarcerated during the COVID-19 pandemic face higher vulnerability to infection due to structural and social factors in carceral settings. Additionally, due to the higher prevalence of chronic health conditions among carceral populations, they are also at risk for more severe COVID-19 disease. This study was designed to explore the experiences of people incarcerated in prisons and jails in Maryland during the height of the pandemic.MethodsWe conducted semi-structured phone interviews between January 2021 and April 2022 with ten individuals incarcerated in Maryland carceral facilities during the height of the U.S. COVID-19 pandemic and were subsequently released from prison or jail. We transcribed the interviews, coded them, and engaged in content analysis, an inductive analytical approach to developing themes and meaning from qualitative data.ResultsFour themes emerged from participants’ descriptions of their experiences: (1) distress from fear, vulnerability, and lack of knowledge about COVID-19 and how to protect themselves, (2) shortcomings of prison and jail administrators and other personnel through lack of transparency and arbitrary and punitive enforcement of COVID-19 protocols, (3) lack of access to programming and communication with others, and (4) absence of preparation for release and access to usual re-entry services.ConclusionParticipants responded that the prison and jails’ response during the COVID-19 pandemic was ill-prepared, inconsistent, and without appropriate measures to mitigate restrictions on liberty and prepare them for release. The lack of information sharing amplified their sense of fear and vulnerability unique to their incarceration status. Study findings have several institutional implications, such as requiring carceral facilities to establish public health preparedness procedures and making plans publicly available.

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic entailed cutting off the usual access to hospitals, denying patients daily visits from their relatives and friends. The standard communication between medical staff and relatives also suffered, with a perceived negative impact on overall care. We developed an electronic communication solution to re-establish a proactive daily communication with patients’ families.MethodsThe communication software allowed families to receive daily interprofessional (medical, nursing, and physiotherapy) updates by text message, on patients’ postoperative clinical state. Appreciation and performance of this communication was evaluated through a prospective randomised study. Two groups were compared (group D, 32 patients “Digital” receiving daily SMS, and group S, 16 patients “Standard” without SMS), assessing satisfaction through dedicated surveys under COVID-19 restrictions. Moreover, private outgoing vs. incoming communication flow between patients and their relatives (phone calls and text messages, for both groups) were analysed at different timeframes of the postoperative hospital stay.ResultsMean age of the population was 66 ± 7 years for both groups. The digital communication service was successfully adopted in group D in all cases, sending overall 155 communications (4.84 per patient). Calls received from relatives were 13 in group D vs. 22 in group S (0.4 vs. 1.4 calls per patient, p = 0.002). Patients’ outgoing vs. incoming traffic flow was equal in the two groups for every timeframe (first two postoperative days vs. the rest), independently from digital communication. Comparing satisfaction of communication (from 1 to 7), level of information and understandability resulted in 6.7 in group D vs. 5.6 in group S (p = 0.004). Appreciation of digital communication was highest during the first three postoperative days.ConclusionThe restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic generated simple and effective ideas on digital solutions for interprofessional communication. Offering this digital service, which complements rather than replace the classic communication, eased the need of the families to be informed and significantly enhanced the overall satisfaction regarding the healthcare service.SummaryThe COVID-19 pandemic has interrupted access to hospital patients and cut off physical contact, denying patients, their families, and medical staff the necessary constant communication about the progress of their stay. It has become necessary, therefore, to compensate for the lack of “physical” face-to-face interaction by introducing innovative digital communication solutions. Our interprofessional project aims to assess the overall satisfaction and acceptance of digital communication service between the hospital and the families, updating on postoperative clinical condition of patients. Specifically, the introduction of a digital communication module attached to the electronic patient record allows relatives to be informed on a daily basis. The development of this module/software enabled families to receive daily, interprofessional and proactive digital updates, on their relative ones’ postoperative stay.

Being the second most populous country in the world, India presents valuable lessons for the world about dealing with the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. From this perspective, we attempted a retrospective evaluation of India’s SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance strategy and also gave some recommendations for undertaking effective genomic surveillance. The dynamics of the COVID-19 pandemic are continuously evolving, and there is a dire need to modulate the genomic surveillance strategy accordingly. The pandemic is now settling towards a low positivity rate scenario, so it is required to revise the practices and policies formulated for a high positivity rate scenario. The perspective also recommends adopting a decentralised approach for SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance with a focus on optimising the workflow of SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance to ensure early detection of emerging variants, especially in the low positivity rate scenario. The perspective emphasises a key observation that the SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance is an important mitigation effort during the pandemic, the guards of such mitigation efforts should not be lowered during the low positivity rate scenario. We attempt to highlight the limitations faced by the Indian healthcare administration during the SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance and, simultaneously, suggest policy interventions derived from our first-hand experience, which may be implementable in a vast, populated country like India.

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic and infection control measures caused changes to daily life for most people. Heavy alcohol consumption and physical inactivity are two important behavioral risk factors for noncommunicable diseases worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic, with its social distancing measures, home office policies, isolation, and quarantine requirements may have an impact on these factors. This three-wave longitudinal study aims to investigate if psychological distress and worries related to health and economy were associated with levels and changes in alcohol consumption and physical activity during the two first years of the COVID-19 pandemic in Norway.MethodsWe used data collected in April 2020, January 2021, and January 2022 from an online longitudinal population-based survey. Alcohol consumption and physical activity status were assessed at all three measuring points via the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT-C) and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-SF). COVID-19-related worries, home office/study, occupational situation, age, gender, children below 18 years living at home, and psychological distress (measured with the Symptom Checklist (SCL-10)) were included as independent variables in the model. A mixed model regression was used and presented with coefficients with 95% confidence intervals (CI).ResultsAnalysis of data from 25,708 participants demonstrates that participants with substantial symptoms of psychological distress more often reported higher alcohol consumption (1.86 units/week, CI 1.48–2.24) and lower levels of physical activity [−1,043 Metabolic Equivalents of Task (METs) per week, CI −1,257;−828] at baseline. Working/studying from home (0.37 units/week, CI 0.24–0.50) and being male (1.57 units/week, CI 1.45–1.69) were associated with higher alcohol consumption. Working/studying from home (−536 METs/week, CI −609;−463), and being older than 70 years (−503 METs/week, CI −650;−355) were related to lower levels of physical activity. The differences in activity levels between those with the highest and lowest levels of psychological distress reduced over time (239 METs/week, CI 67;412), and similarly the differences in alcohol intake reduced over time among those having and not having children

IntroductionChild attention skills are critical for supporting self-regulation abilities, especially during the first years of life. On the other hand, inattention symptoms in preschoolers have been associated with poor school readiness, literacy skills and academic achievement. Previous research has linked excessive screen time with increased inattention symptoms in early childhood. However, most research has only focused on TV exposure and did not investigate this association during the COVID-19 pandemic. This atypical context has increased screen time in children worldwide, including preschoolers. We hypothesize that higher levels of child screen media and parenting stress at age 3.5 will be associated with higher child inattention symptoms at age 4.5.MethodThis study draws on participants followed longitudinally over the span of 2-years for an investigation of Canadian preschoolers’ screen media use during the pandemic (N = 315, 2020). A follow-up with this sample was completed in 2021 (N = 264).ResultsAnalyses using multiple linear regression, revealed a positive association between child screen time at age 3.5 and inattention symptoms at 4.5 years. Parental stress was also positively associated with child inattention symptoms. Associations were observed above individual (child age, inhibitory control, and sex) and family (parent education and family income) characteristics.DiscussionThese results confirmed our hypothesis and highlight that preschooler screen use and parenting stress may undermine attentional skills. Since attention is a crucial component for children development, behavior and academic outcomes, our study reinforces the importance for parents of adopting healthy media habits.

IntroductionThe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns is likely to have caused adverse changes in lifestyle-related/cardiovascular risk factors and other such modifiable risk factors of dementia. We aimed to examine the pandemic’s impact on some modifiable risk factors of dementia among rural Indians belonging to a large, prospective aging cohort—Srinivaspura Aging, NeuoSenescence, and COGnition (SANSCOG).MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study among adults aged ≥ 45 years (n = 3,148; 1,492 males and 1,656 females) residing in the villages of Srinivaspura in Karnataka state, India. SANSCOG study data (clinical and biochemical assessments) of these participants were obtained from three distinct periods: (i) the “pre-COVID period”—before India’s nationwide lockdown on 24 March 2020, (ii) the “COVID period”—during the first and second waves of the pandemic, wherein the social restrictions were prominent (25 March 2020 to 30 September 2021), and (iii) the “post-COVID period”—after easing of restrictions (from 1 October 2021 onward). Proportions of participants with diabetes, hypertension, obesity, dyslipidemia (diagnosed using standard criteria), and depression (diagnosed using the Geriatric Depression Scale) were compared between the above three periods.ResultsThe odds of having obesity, abnormal triglycerides, and depression among individuals in the COVID period were 1.42 times, 1.38 times, and 2.65 times more than the odds in the pre-COVID period, respectively. The odds of having hypertension, obesity, abnormal total cholesterol, abnormal triglycerides, abnormal LDL, and depression among individuals in the post-COVID period were 1.27 times, 1.32 times, 1.58 times, 1.95, 1.23, and 3.05 times more than the odds in the pre-COVID period, respectively. The odds of diabetes did not differ between any of the three periods.DiscussionWe found significantly higher odds of some of the studied risk factors in the COVID and post-COVID periods compared to the pre-COVID period, suggesting that the pandemic adversely impacted the physical and psychological health of this marginalized, rural Indian population. We call for urgent public health measures, such as multimodal, lifestyle-based, and psychosocial interventions, to mitigate this negative impact and reduce the future risk of dementia.

This study aimed to explore how metaphors were used to interpret the pandemic and to address its challenges in primary and secondary schools in Reggio Emilia, Italy. A questionnaire was administered to educators and teachers to understand how languages, images, and metaphors were used by themselves and their students to talk about the pandemic and their experiences of living with it. The goal of the questionnaire was to guide critical reflection and encourage more informed language choices. While the existing literature points out the alleged overuse of war metaphors and military frames in public discourse, our findings show that war metaphors are relatively frequent, with other metaphorical frames widely used by teachers and educators to foster resilient attitudes in students. Moreover, in their professional contexts, teachers and educators mostly use metaphorical frames involving resilient attitudes. Our interpretation of the results supports the hypothesis that the purposeful use and deliberate production of metaphors support the choice of metaphors with positive, constructive implications. Finally, some implications of these findings on the theory of metaphor and the methodology of the research are discussed.

During the COVID-19 pandemic it was clear that not all schools were equally prepared to adapt to the challenges of online learning. While many traditional public schools struggled to transition to remote teaching, cyber charter schools–which already had experience with full-time online learning–appeared to demonstrate superior academic performance and less learning loss. This success may be due in part to the greater experience of these schools with online teaching, as well as that the type of student enrolling in cyber charters changed. Further research and external peer review is necessary to confirm the validity of these findings, but in the face of uncertainty and change, it is essential that we approach education with an open mind and a willingness to consider all perspectives in order to find solutions that truly benefit our students.

Despite the difficulties faced during Emergency Remote Teaching (ERT) because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is also true that such a situation has left a series of learnings that educational institutions around the world should capitalize on. Under this scenario, interest arose in studying three delivery modalities (face-to-face, hybrid, and remote) at the university level, aiming to compare the students’ learning level and their perceptions of each delivery modality. The present study was developed in a private university in Mexico, following a quantitative methodological approach involving 360 students and 14 professors from various schools and geographical locations. Data were collected through pre-and post-tests and a perception questionnaire for students. Findings suggest that the students’ learning level in every modality varies by school and that students positively perceive the three delivery modalities, albeit identifying factors that foster and hinder their learning process in each one. The results of this study contribute to strengthening the research field on teaching during ERT, allowing educational institutions to make better decisions regarding the quality of the educational offer.

Introduction: As smartphones have become increasingly integrated into people’s lives, researchers have attempted to answer whether they are beneficial or detrimental to well-being. Of particular interest to the current study is the role that smartphones played during the first year of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Methods: In an intensive longitudinal study, we explore how varying uses of smartphones relate to well-being using the Displacement-Interference Complementarity framework. Results: Consistent with pre-pandemic research, we show that people felt better, calmer, and more energetic when they used their phones more for complementary purposes (i.e., to access information, entertainment, and connection not otherwise available). In contrast to most pre-pandemic research, however, we find no evidence that any type of phone use predicted lower wellbeing during the pandemic. Discussion: Overall, this study lends support to the idea that smartphones can be beneficial for individuals, particularly during times when face-to-face interaction is limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mobile health platforms have shown promise in the management of various mental health conditions (including stress, anxiety, and depression) and cognitive behavioral strategies emerged as a popular and effective option offered by the platforms. This paper presents the protocol of a study aimed to test the effectiveness of a mobile platform that uses cognitive-behavioral strategies for stress self-management in the Tuscany region (Italy). The mobile app is adapted to the specific needs of each vulnerable population for which it is designed: young and older people, healthcare professionals, entrepreneurs. The app will be evaluated on the following outcomes: (i) perceived susceptibility and severity of the pandemic situation, perceived benefits, and costs of preventive health behaviors, (ii) knowledge about Covid-19 preventive behaviors and negative consequences of social distancing, (iii) stress and psychopathological symptoms (i.e., anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress symptoms) and cognitive distortions. If successful, we expect that the platform could give various groups clinical benefits by providing symptom self-monitoring and early intervention, consolidating the number of mental health programs available, and decreasing barriers to treatment-seeking. This population-level approach has the potential to improve mental health outcomes in pandemic periods for many people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionAs smartphones have become increasingly integrated into people’s lives, researchers have attempted to answer whether they are beneficial or detrimental to well-being. Of particular interest to the current study is the role that smartphones played during the first year of the COVID-19 Pandemic.MethodsIn an intensive longitudinal study, we explore how varying uses of smartphones relate to well-being using the Displacement-Interference-Complementarity framework.ResultsConsistent with pre-pandemic research, we show that people felt better, calmer, and more energetic when they used their phones more for complementary purposes (i.e., to access information, entertainment, and connection not otherwise available). In contrast to most pre-pandemic research, however, we find no evidence that any type of phone use predicted lower well-being during the pandemic.DiscussionOverall, this study lends support to the idea that smartphones can be beneficial for individuals, particularly during times when face-to-face interaction is limited.

The pandemic led to an increase of online teaching tools use. One such tool, which might have helped students to stay engaged despite the distance, is gamification. However, gamification is often criticized due to a novelty effect. Yet, others state novelty is a natural part of gamification. Therefore, we investigated whether gamification novelty effect brings incremental value in comparison to other novelties in a course. We created achievement- and socialization-based gamification connected to coursework and practice test. We then measured students’ behavioral engagement and performance in a quasi-experiment. On the one hand, results show ICT students engaged and performed moderately better in a gamified condition than in control over time. On the other hand, BA course results show no difference between gamified and practice test condition and their novelty effect. We conclude an external gamification system yields better results than a classical design but does not exceed practice tests effect.

Mobile health platforms have shown promise in the management of various mental health conditions (including stress, anxiety, and depression) and cognitive behavioral strategies emerged as a popular and effective option offered by the platforms. This paper presents the protocol of a study aimed to test the effectiveness of a mobile platform that uses cognitive-behavioral strategies for stress self-management in the Tuscany region (Italy). The mobile app is adapted to the specific needs of each vulnerable population for which it is designed: young and older people, healthcare professionals, entrepreneurs. The app will be evaluated on the following outcomes: (i) perceived susceptibility and severity of the pandemic situation, perceived benefits, and costs of preventive health behaviors, (ii) knowledge about Covid-19 preventive behaviors and negative consequences of social distancing, (iii) stress and psychopathological symptoms (i.e., anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress symptoms) and cognitive distortions. If successful, we expect that the platform could give various groups clinical benefits by providing symptom self-monitoring and early intervention, consolidating the number of mental health programs available, and decreasing barriers to treatment-seeking. This population-level approach has the potential to improve mental health outcomes in pandemic periods for many people.

ProblemThe two waves of COVID-19 severely affected the healthcare system in India. The government responded to the first wave with a strict nationwide lockdown which disrupted primary care, including the management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The second wave overwhelmed healthcare facilities leading to inadequate access to hospital services. Collectively, these issues required urgent responses, including the adaptation of primary care.ApproachThe Low-Cost Effective Care Unit (LCECU) of Christian Medical College, Vellore (CMC) has a network of community volunteers, community health workers, an outreach nurse, social workers and doctors who operate clinics in six poorer areas of Vellore. The network adapted quickly, responding to the lockdown during the first wave and ensuring ongoing primary care for patients with non-communicable diseases. During the second wave, the team developed a system in collaboration with other CMC departments to provide home-based care for patients with COVID-19.Local settingThe LCECU is a 48-bed unit of the Department of Family Medicine, part of the 3,000-bed CMC. It originated in 1982, aiming to care for the poor populations of Vellore town. It has been actively working among urban communities since 2002, with a focus on delivering Community Oriented Primary Care (COPC), for six poor urban communities since 2016.Relevant changesDuring the first wave of COVID the LCECU team ensured patients with NCDs had uninterrupted primary care and medications by visiting them in their homes. The team also addressed food insecurity by organizing a daily lunch service for 600 people for over 2 months. In the second wave, the team responded to community needs by organizing and delivering home-based care to monitor patients affected by COVID-19.Lessons learnedThe COVID-19 pandemic raises many questions about the preparedness of health systems for disasters that disproportionately affect marginalized populations globally. COVID-19 is only one of the many potential disasters, including non-communicable diseases, mental health problems, pollution, climate change, and lifestyle illness. There is an urgent need to study models of care that support vulnerable communities in an accessible, cost-effective, and patient-oriented way, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This paper outlines lessons on how the LCECU team addressed disaster management:1. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of primary care-based rapid response interventions in disaster management.2. The LCECU model demonstrated the effectiveness of a primary care intervention based on pre-existing networks and familiarity between primary care teams and the community.3. Establishing community-based health care via interdisciplinary teams, including community health workers, community volunteers, outreach nurses, and doctors, is key.4. Addressing other social determinants of health, such as food insecurity, is an important component of care delivery.

Introduction: Spirituality can be understood as a capital based on individual capabilities created by the application of intrinsic spiritual values, in order to use and develop human potential. The literature points out that spiritual capital increasingly influences and motivates entrepreneurs. Methods: In this paper, we investigate whether spirituality has a mediating role between psychological resilience, optimism and entrepreneurial success, and verify the gender differences. Our hypotheses are quantitatively tested on a sample of 233 micro and small Portuguese business owners during the pandemic crisis. Results: The main findings highlight that, while optimism and psychological resilience present a positive and significant relationship with entrepreneurial success in both genders, spirituality only impacts female entrepreneurial success. Discussion: Our study theoretically and empirically shows that the psychological resources and spirituality can be incorporated into new or existing programs designed to provide entrepreneurs with information on coping skills and how to engage in positive reorientation and reappraisal. In so doing, it improves the knowledge of the importance of psychological resources for the micro and small business' recoverability during the pandemic, which is deeply rooted in the entrepreneurial ability to excel during adversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of teleworking on self-reported job satisfaction and workers' productivity in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. A survey was administered to 331 teleworkers belonging to industrial companies, whose data were analyzed with a PLSSEM structural equation model. The results indicate that communication with coworkers, time spent teleworking, and workplace suitability positively affect self-reported productivity, while trust on the part of supervisors and workplace suitability positively affect job satisfaction. On the other hand, work-family conflict negatively affects job satisfaction and self-reported productivity, whereas communication with coworkers, support from supervisor and time spent teleworking have no significant effect on job satisfaction. This study provides relevant information for industrial organizations to improve the jobsatisfaction and productivity in large scaled teleworking contexts, as should have been implemented during the mandatory preventive isolation due to the health crisis related to the transmission of SARs-CoV-2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Face masks are widely used during the COVID-19 pandemic as one of the protective measures against the viral infection risk. Some evidence suggests that face mask prolonged use can be uncomfortable, and discomfort can be exacerbated during exercise. However, the acute responses of maskwearing during exercise on affective/psychological and exercise performance responses is still a topic of debate. Purpose: To perform a systematic review with meta-analysis of the acute effects of mask-wearing during exercise on affective/psychological and exercise performance responses in healthy adults of different/diverse training status. Methods: This review (CRD42021249569) was performed according to Cochrane's recommendations, with searches performed in electronic (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, SportDiscus, and PsychInfo) and preprint databases (MedRxiv, SportRxiv, PsyArXiv, and Preprint.Org). Syntheses of included studies' data were performed, and the RoB-2 tool was used to assess the studies' methodological quality. Assessed outcomes were affective/psychological (discomfort, stress and affective responses, fatigue, anxiety, dyspnea, and perceived exertion) and exercise performance time-toexhaustion (TTE), maximal power output (POMAX), and muscle force production] parameters. Available data were pooled through meta-analyses. Results: Initially 4,587 studies were identified, 36 clinical trials (all crossover designs) were included. A total of 749 (39% women) healthy adults were evaluated across all studies. The face mask types found were clothing (CM), surgical (SM), FFP2/N95, and exhalation valved FFP2/N95, while the most common exercises were treadmill and cycle ergometer incremental tests, beyond outdoor running, resistance exercises and functional tests. Mask-wearing during exercise lead to increased overall discomfort (SMD: 0.87; 95% CI 0.25-1.5; p = 0.01; I2 = 0%), dyspnea (SMD: 0.40; 95% CI 0.09-0.71; p = 0.01; I2 = 68%), and perceived exertion (SMD: 0.38; 95% CI 0.18-0.58; p < 0.001; I2 = 46%); decreases on the TTE (SMD: -0.29; 95% CI -0.10 to -0.48; p < 0.001; I2 = 0%); without effects on POMAX and walking/running distance traveled (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Face mask wearing during exercise increases discomfort (large effect), dyspnea (moderate effect), and perceived exertion (small effect), and reduces the TTE (small effect), without effects on cycle ergometer POMAX and distance traveled in walking and running functional tests. However, some aspects may be dependent on the face mask type, such as dyspnea and perceived exertion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: A direct causal link between Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) and COVID-19 is unproven, although current data suggest a plausible association., Aim: This study aims to map and analyze the intersection of research on sudden cardiac death and COVID-19 through a comprehensive bibliometric analysis., Methodology: This study searched the literature by applying the keywords "COVID-19" AND "Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD)". Literature retrieved using the above keywords and published were included with a time limit from 1st January 2020 to 8th Aug 2024., Results: The bibliometric analysis of COVID-19 and Sudden Cardiac Death highlights key research trends from 2020 to 2024, revealing a rapid surge in scientific output during the pandemic. 2,915 articles were retrieved, with 70.5% being original research, reflecting a strong focus on new empirical evidence. The peak in publications occurred in 2021, driven by the urgent need to understand the cardiovascular implications of COVID-19. However, a decline in publications and citations in subsequent years suggests a shift in research priorities and a potential saturation in initial research areas. Leading institutions like Harvard Medical School, Mayo Clinic, and the University of Pennsylvania played a significant role, with the U.S., China, and the U.K. being top contributors. Despite fewer publications, China's research had a notable impact, indicated by high average citations per article. Keyword analysis identified "COVID-19" and "SARS-CoV-2" as dominant themes, with related terms like myocarditis and heart failure reflecting major cardiovascular concerns. Co-citation analysis revealed seminal works that shaped the discourse, with influential articles by Xu Z et al. and Guo T et al. frequently cited. The collaborative nature of research, especially among top institutions and countries like the U.S., Italy, and the U.K., was evident in network analyses. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the research landscape, highlighting significant contributions, emerging themes, and future research directions in understanding and mitigating the cardiovascular impacts of COVID-19., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (© 2024 Bhattacharya, Singh, Singh and Singh.)

IntroductionSpirituality can be understood as a capital based on individual capabilities created by the application of intrinsic spiritual values, in order to use and develop human potential. The literature points out that spiritual capital increasingly influences and motivates entrepreneurs.MethodsIn this paper, we investigate whether spirituality has a mediating role between psychological resilience, optimism and entrepreneurial success, and verify the gender differences. Our hypotheses are quantitatively tested on a sample of 233 micro and small Portuguese business owners during the pandemic crisis.ResultsThe main findings highlight that, while optimism and psychological resilience present a positive and significant relationship with entrepreneurial success in both genders, spirituality only impacts female entrepreneurial success.DiscussionOur study theoretically and empirically shows that the psychological resources and spirituality can be incorporated into new or existing programs designed to provide entrepreneurs with information on coping skills and how to engage in positive reorientation and reappraisal. In so doing, it improves the knowledge of the importance of psychological resources for the micro and small business’ recoverability during the pandemic, which is deeply rooted in the entrepreneurial ability to excel during adversity.