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Public Health and Social Science on COVID-19

A topical collection in Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This collection belongs to the section "Health, Well-Being and Sustainability".

Viewed by 161738

Editor

Prof. Dr. Serik Meirmanov

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Asia Pacific Studies, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Beppu, Oita 874-8577, Japan
Interests: public health; epidemiology; psychology; education; brain science; molecular biology

Topical Collection Information

Dear Colleagues, 

The quick spread of the COVID-19 pandemic around the world with relatively high mortality rate has pushed the research community to swiftly react with epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory studies.

Detailed epidemiological investigations of COVID-19 infection and analyses of Public Health measures and health-related national policies outcomes are among high-priority research topics.

Newly established policies of governments around the globe to reduce the spread of infection and the mortality rate due to COVID-19 have also had a great impact on social and economic life.

Governments have responded in their own ways, sometimes very differently, which require analysis regarding their effectiveness. At the same time, anti-COVID-19 measures lead to disruption of the economy, increasing unemployment, restrictions on the movement of people, the closing of businesses, educational facilities, etc. This in turn has had a great impact on the psychological health of people.

To evaluate current interventions and to plan future policies, policymakers in addition to public health now need to carry out research on the social and economic impacts of COVID-19.   

The goal of this Research Topic is to generate high-quality Public Health and Social Science research to help national strategic public health response plans; analyze the consequences of epidemic-control decisions; and understand the psychological, social, cultural, and economic impacts of COVID-19. 

We welcome the submission of reviews, original research articles, short communications, systematic reviews, and case studies targeting any of these core research questions, as the main goal of this Special Issue is to address some of the core research questions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prof. Dr. Serik Meirmanov
Guest Editor

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • public health
  • social science
  • sociology
  • anthropology
  • political science
  • social psychology
  • economics

Published Papers (31 papers)

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2023

Jump to: 2022, 2021, 2020

17 pages, 9079 KiB  
Article
Using Big Data to Assess Park System Performance during the COVID-19 Pandemic
by Shujuan Li, Bo Yang and Haiquan Li
Sustainability 2023, 15(22), 16056; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su152216056 - 17 Nov 2023
Viewed by 606
Abstract
Parks provide essential services to urban dwellers, but the global COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted park usage. Despite this, little is known about the adaptation of visiting behaviors by the public and how visitation patterns vary across different types of parks. In this study, [...] Read more.
Parks provide essential services to urban dwellers, but the global COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted park usage. Despite this, little is known about the adaptation of visiting behaviors by the public and how visitation patterns vary across different types of parks. In this study, we utilized SafeGraph cellular human movement data to compare park visits in Tucson, Arizona (USA) before and during the pandemic (2019 vs. 2020). We reviewed park management measures in response to the pandemic alongside park visit data. Furthermore, we conducted a GIS analysis to compare the changes in park visits across different park types throughout various days and months. Results indicate that (1) fluctuations in park visits are strongly correlated with COVID-19-related measures; (2) different types of parks experience vastly different processes of visit decline and recovery; (3) river and linear parks maintain their appeal, likely due to the perception of reduced virus transmission risk associated with their primary activities, such as walking and bicycling; and (4) the contrast between weekend and weekday visit patterns reflects the extent of the pandemic impact. These findings offer valuable guidance for park management and park usage, attendance prediction, and design adaptations for future pandemics. We conclude that SafeGraph big data are effective for evaluating park system performance on a broader scale. Full article
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15 pages, 1058 KiB  
Article
Psychometric Performance of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) and Its Validation in Czechia
by Jiri Remr
Sustainability 2023, 15(11), 8990; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su15118990 - 02 Jun 2023
Viewed by 750
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought significant changes to people’s lives, causing high levels of anxiety, distress, and fear. In response, the “Fear of COVID-19” scale (FCV-19S) was developed in 2020 to measure the severity of fears related to COVID-19. This study assessed the [...] Read more.
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought significant changes to people’s lives, causing high levels of anxiety, distress, and fear. In response, the “Fear of COVID-19” scale (FCV-19S) was developed in 2020 to measure the severity of fears related to COVID-19. This study assessed the psychometric properties of the Czech version of the FCV-19S, which was administered to a representative sample of 1372 participants, and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted. The sample reflects the structure of a theoretical population aged 15–74 years and is composed of 50% males and 50% females. Moreover, univariate statistics were calculated, internal consistency was tested, and uni-dimensionality based on principal component analysis was performed. In addition, univariate statistical analyses were performed, internal consistency was tested, and univariate consistency was also assessed using principal component analysis. CFA indicated that the scale demonstrated very good standard indices; FCV-19S showed a high level of internal consistency, and it adequately differentiated the levels of fear among diverse subpopulations. The findings suggest that the Czech version of the FCV-19S is a valid and reliable instrument that has robust psychometric properties and can, therefore, be recommended for use in research. The availability of the Czech version of the FCV-19S will contribute to assessments of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Czech population, providing valuable information in guiding interventions aimed at reducing the negative psychological impacts of the pandemic. Full article
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14 pages, 272 KiB  
Article
Time Discounting and Hand-Sanitization Behavior: Evidence from Japan
by Sumeet Lal, Trinh Xuan Thi Nguyen, Abdul-Salam Sulemana, Mostafa Saidur Rahim Khan and Yoshihiko Kadoya
Sustainability 2023, 15(8), 6488; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su15086488 - 11 Apr 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1216
Abstract
Whether non-compliance with hand sanitization is related to impatience or impulsivity is an unresolved issue. Several studies have argued that not maintaining hand sanitization requirements during a pandemic could relate to impatience or impulsivity. However, the impatience or impulsivity of hand sanitization needs [...] Read more.
Whether non-compliance with hand sanitization is related to impatience or impulsivity is an unresolved issue. Several studies have argued that not maintaining hand sanitization requirements during a pandemic could relate to impatience or impulsivity. However, the impatience or impulsivity of hand sanitization needs to be investigated in pandemic-free situations, as government requirements for hand sanitization influence subjective preferences. Little research, however, has examined such associations in pandemic-neutral scenarios. To fill this gap, this study assesses the role of two aspects of time discounting—hyperbolic discounting and impatience—in influencing hand-sanitizing behavior in Japan. The study utilized two waves of 2021 and 2018 datasets derived from the Japanese population-based survey of the Preference Parameters Study of Osaka University (N = 725). The probit regression results provide partial support for deviation from hand sanitization as an impulsive decision because the phenomenon is evident only in females. There were no notable impacts of the impatience variable in any of the models or specifications. Our study provides important policy implications. We argue that one-size-fits-all policies may not solve the impulsivity associated with hand-sanitization behavior in Japan because the impulsivity problem is not commonly found among all respondents. Policymakers should consider underlying gender differences when designing future health-promoting measures. Full article

2022

Jump to: 2023, 2021, 2020

16 pages, 281 KiB  
Article
Towards Sustained and Sustainable Management of COVID-19: An Alternative to the Simplified Return to Pre-Pandemic “Normality’’
by Frane Adam and Maruša Gorišek
Sustainability 2022, 14(17), 10789; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su141710789 - 30 Aug 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1562
Abstract
The article is focusing on current processes, models, and possible consequences of the easing or cancelling of measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic that we have seen by the end of July 2022. This is observed in the broader context of selected European [...] Read more.
The article is focusing on current processes, models, and possible consequences of the easing or cancelling of measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic that we have seen by the end of July 2022. This is observed in the broader context of selected European countries, allowing us to detect differences, similarities, and, especially, the different ways in which these processes have been legitimized by politicians (governments) and experts. The authors agree with a group of biomedical and other experts, scientists, who consider the rapid abolishment of epidemiological measures as a strategy that is considered a too-simplified solution, so are searching for a more sustainable way of managing the pandemic and also “pandemic fatigue”. In the text, the authors advocate a strategy, based on the principles of calibration, combination, and continuity of measures, which is compatible with the sustainable organization of the healthcare system. However, the implementation must be viable and long-term oriented. Full article
24 pages, 7765 KiB  
Article
The Influence of Fake News on Social Media: Analysis and Verification of Web Content during the COVID-19 Pandemic by Advanced Machine Learning Methods and Natural Language Processing
by Andreea Nistor and Eduard Zadobrischi
Sustainability 2022, 14(17), 10466; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su141710466 - 23 Aug 2022
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 8323
Abstract
The purpose of this research was to analyze the prevalence of fake news on social networks, and implicitly, the economic crisis generated by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the identification of solutions for filtering and detecting fake news. In this context, we [...] Read more.
The purpose of this research was to analyze the prevalence of fake news on social networks, and implicitly, the economic crisis generated by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the identification of solutions for filtering and detecting fake news. In this context, we created a series of functions to identify fake content, using information collected from different articles, through advanced machine learning methods with which we could upload and analyze the obtained data. The methodology proposed in this research determined a higher accuracy of fake news collected from Facebook, one of the most powerful social networks for the dissemination of informative content. Thus, the use of advanced machine learning methods and natural language processing code led to an improvement in the detection of fake news compared to conventional methods. Full article
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13 pages, 436 KiB  
Article
Romanian Dentists’ Perception of Legal Liability Related to COVID-19 Infection during Dental Treatments in Times of the Pandemic Outbreak
by Maria Aluaș, Sorana D. Bolboacă, Anca-Ștefania Mesaroș and Patricia Ondine Lucaciu
Sustainability 2022, 14(15), 9744; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14159744 - 08 Aug 2022
Viewed by 1433
Abstract
Our study aimed to describe and assess the impact of legal aspects on dentists’ practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. The objectives were: (a) to explore dentists’ and dental managers’ knowledge about dental liability during the COVID-19 pandemic; (b) to inquire about the respondents’ [...] Read more.
Our study aimed to describe and assess the impact of legal aspects on dentists’ practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. The objectives were: (a) to explore dentists’ and dental managers’ knowledge about dental liability during the COVID-19 pandemic; (b) to inquire about the respondents’ perceptions of immunity for prejudices resulting from non-urgent dental procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic; and (c) to assess respondents’ “good faith” in handling challenges in the pandemic context. We conducted an observational, cross-sectional, exploratory study based on a survey. The target population was represented by active dentists in Romania from 11 March 2020 to 31 January 2022. An email, professional groups on WhatsApp, and Facebook invitation to participate were sent at the end of January 2022. Data were collected using a self-administrated electronic questionnaire. The responses of sixty-one participants, the majority younger than 41 years (82%) and women (77%), were analyzed. Most respondents (72%) appropriately thought that patients could complain about being infected with COVID-19 during their visits for dental treatment. Most respondents agreed that all dental personnel should benefit from legal immunity (72%). The respondents indicated that clinic or office management is responsible for failing to implement/respect the safety measures and protocols specific to the COVID-19 pandemic (83%). Outcomes showed that the respondents are aware of the possibility of being sued and would not be surprised to see COVID-19 raised in litigation, while the state’s immunity is expected for all dental care personnel, not only dentists. Full article
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13 pages, 528 KiB  
Article
COVID-19 Burnout Subject to the Dynamic Zero-COVID Policy in Hong Kong: Development and Psychometric Evaluation of the COVID-19 Burnout Frequency Scale
by Sam S. S. Lau, Cherry C. Y. Ho, Rebecca C. K. Pang, Susan Su, Heather Kwok, Sai-fu Fung and Roger C. Ho
Sustainability 2022, 14(14), 8235; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14148235 - 06 Jul 2022
Cited by 29 | Viewed by 3560
Abstract
We sought to develop and validate a self-assessment burnout scale of the Chinese general population during the COVID-19 pandemic in the context of a dynamic zero-COVID policy. Factors relevant to individuals’ burnout during the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic were identified in the literature and [...] Read more.
We sought to develop and validate a self-assessment burnout scale of the Chinese general population during the COVID-19 pandemic in the context of a dynamic zero-COVID policy. Factors relevant to individuals’ burnout during the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic were identified in the literature and through the reviews of an expert panel. A convenience sample of 1087 was randomly divided into two subsamples and the scale’s psychometric properties were assessed. Findings suggested that the COVID-19 BFS has adequate reliability (α = 0.90) along with factorial, concurrent, and convergent validity. Results of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) supported the one-factor structure of the scale. Concurrent validity results indicate a significant positive correlation between COVID-19 BFS and the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (r = 0.131, p < 0.001), suggesting that individuals with higher levels of burnout may also have higher levels of fear of COVID, or vice versa. The scale was also correlated positively with being against the dynamic zero-COVID strategy (r = 0.340, p < 0.001), indicating that a higher level of burnout may be associated with individuals who are against the dynamic zero-COVID strategy. The results suggest the five-item COVID-19 BFS is a valid and reliable scale for the measurement of burnout frequency of the Chinese general population in relation to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic in a dynamic zero-COVID policy context. Full article
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22 pages, 1741 KiB  
Article
Thematic Analysis as a New Culturomic Tool: The Social Media Coverage on COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy
by Massimo Aria, Corrado Cuccurullo, Luca D’Aniello, Michelangelo Misuraca and Maria Spano
Sustainability 2022, 14(6), 3643; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14063643 - 20 Mar 2022
Cited by 42 | Viewed by 7036
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic influenced people’s everyday lives because of the health emergency and the resulting socio-economic crisis. People use social media to share experiences and search for information about the disease more than before. This paper aims at analysing the discourse on COVID-19 [...] Read more.
The COVID-19 pandemic influenced people’s everyday lives because of the health emergency and the resulting socio-economic crisis. People use social media to share experiences and search for information about the disease more than before. This paper aims at analysing the discourse on COVID-19 developed in 2020 by Italian tweeters, creating a digital storytelling of the pandemic. Employing thematic analysis, an approach used in bibliometrics to highlight the conceptual structure of a research domain, different time slices have been described, bringing out the most discussed topics. The graphical mapping of these topics allowed obtaining an easily readable representation of the discourse, paving the way for novel uses of thematic analyses in social sciences. Full article
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10 pages, 643 KiB  
Article
Effectiveness of Human Mobility Change in Reducing the Spread of COVID-19: Ecological Study of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
by Mohamed Ali Alzain, Collins Otieno Asweto, Suleman Atique, Najm Eldinn Elsser Elhassan, Ahmed Kassar, Sehar-un-Nisa Hassan, Mohammed Ismail Humaida, Rafeek Adeyemi Yusuf and Adeniyi Abolaji Adeboye
Sustainability 2022, 14(6), 3368; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14063368 - 13 Mar 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1849
Abstract
Non-pharmacological interventions including mobility restriction have been developed to curb transmission of SARS-CoV-2. We provided precise estimates of disease burden and examined the impact of mobility restriction on reducing the COVID-19 effective reproduction number in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This study involved [...] Read more.
Non-pharmacological interventions including mobility restriction have been developed to curb transmission of SARS-CoV-2. We provided precise estimates of disease burden and examined the impact of mobility restriction on reducing the COVID-19 effective reproduction number in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This study involved secondary analysis of open-access COVID-19 data obtained from different sources between 2 March and 26 December 2020. The dependent and main independent variables of interest were the effective reproduction number and anonymized mobility indices, respectively. Multiple linear regression was used to investigate the relationship between the community mobility change and the effective reproduction number for COVID-19. By 26 December 2020, the total number of COVID-19 cases in Saudi Arabia reached 360,690, with a cumulative incidence rate of 105.41/10,000 population. Al Jouf, Northern Border, and Jazan regions were ≥2.5 times (OR = 2.93; 95% CI: 1.29–6.64), (OR = 2.50; 95% CI: 1.08–5.81), and (OR = 2.51; 95% CI: 1.09–5.79) more likely to have a higher case fatality rate than Riyadh, the capital. Mobility changes in public and residential areas were significant predictors of the COVID-19 effective reproduction number. This study demonstrated that community mobility restrictions effectively control transmission of the COVID-19 virus. Full article
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24 pages, 872 KiB  
Article
Developing a Behavior Change Framework for Pandemic Prevention and Control in Public Spaces in China
by Jing Liu, Khairul Manami Kamarudin, Yuqi Liu, Jinzhi Zou and Jiaqi Zhang
Sustainability 2022, 14(4), 2452; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14042452 - 21 Feb 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3198
Abstract
Preventive behavior, such as hand hygiene, facemask wearing, and social distancing, plays a vital role in containing the spread of viruses during pandemics. However, people in many parts of the world usually encounter difficulties adhering to this behavior due to various causes. Thus, [...] Read more.
Preventive behavior, such as hand hygiene, facemask wearing, and social distancing, plays a vital role in containing the spread of viruses during pandemics. However, people in many parts of the world usually encounter difficulties adhering to this behavior due to various causes. Thus, this article aims to develop a research framework and propose design strategies to prompt individuals’ behavior change during pandemics. Initially, we integrated a literature review and a structured interview (n = 22) to ascertain the core factors impacting behavior change during pandemics. These factors were categorized into four aspects: perceptional factors (attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavior control, risk perceptions); social factors (knowledge and information dissemination, governmental regulations); physical factors (tools and facilities and surveillance); and sociocultural factor (cultural contexts). Then, a theoretical framework with antecedents was developed to reveal behavior intention and formation process. After that, an empirical study was carried out to test the research framework through a questionnaire survey (n = 549). The research findings indicated that all derived factors could directly or indirectly affect individuals’ preventive behavior during pandemics. This article strives to provide valuable insights for different stakeholders when coping with pandemic situations. Full article
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2021

Jump to: 2023, 2022, 2020

13 pages, 1454 KiB  
Article
Exploring the Prevalence of Protective Measure Adoption in Mosques during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Indonesia
by Choirul Amin, Priyono Priyono, Umrotun Umrotun, Maulida Fatkhiyah and Suliadi Firdaus Sufahani
Sustainability 2021, 13(24), 13927; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132413927 - 16 Dec 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2438
Abstract
Muslims worship together more frequently than members of other religions. They pray in congregation at the mosque five times a day, causing the mosque to become a central hub for COVID-19 transmission. Therefore, the adoption of protective measures as a method of mitigating [...] Read more.
Muslims worship together more frequently than members of other religions. They pray in congregation at the mosque five times a day, causing the mosque to become a central hub for COVID-19 transmission. Therefore, the adoption of protective measures as a method of mitigating the COVID-19 pandemic in mosques is vital. This study aims to account for the implementation status of protective measures in mosques in Surakarta City, Indonesia, during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire sent to mosque caretakers as research participants. The mosques were chosen using a simple random sampling technique for a total sample of 247 mosques in Surakarta City. Participants were asked how often they implement the following protective measures in mosques, as recommended by the Majelis Ulama Indonesia: checking body temperature before entering the mosque, prayer distancing, carrying own prayer mat, wearing a mask when praying and no handshaking after prayer. The prevalence of the adoption of protective measures was revealed to be amongst 44.6% to 92.6%, with the lowest prevalence in checking body temperature before entering the mosque. Overall, only 33.7% of mosques implemented all protective measures. In mosques affiliated with Nahdlatul Ulama and the small mosques, the prevalence of protective measures was lower than in mosques affiliated with Muhammadiyah and the large mosques, respectively, suggesting that it is crucial to develop targeted health messages for these groups. Finally, as religious communities remain active in congregational worship during the outbreak, the contradictions between medical and religious practices must be addressed in society for believers to adopt public health policies and for policymakers to comprehend the importance of religious observances. Full article
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12 pages, 688 KiB  
Communication
COVID-19 Pandemic and Reimagination of Multilateralism through Global Health Diplomacy
by Nippun Gupta, Bawa Singh, Jaspal Kaur, Sandeep Singh and Vijay Kumar Chattu
Sustainability 2021, 13(20), 11551; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132011551 - 19 Oct 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4114
Abstract
The ongoing pandemic COVID-19 has made it very clear that no one is safe until everyone is safe. But how can everyone be safe when the pandemic has broken every nerve of the economy and put an extra burden on the already crippled [...] Read more.
The ongoing pandemic COVID-19 has made it very clear that no one is safe until everyone is safe. But how can everyone be safe when the pandemic has broken every nerve of the economy and put an extra burden on the already crippled healthcare systems in low-income countries? Thus, the pandemic has changed the orientation of domestic as well as global politics, with many geopolitical shifts. The exponential growing infected cases and more than four million deaths has demanded a global response in terms of multilateralism. However, declining multilateralism and the need for its reforms was a much-delayed response. Given this context, this paper aimed to link the decline of multilateralism in the face of the pandemic by highlighting various instances of its failure and success; and highlighting the need for its revival. The article critically examines and evaluates the responses of multilateralism and global health diplomacy (GHD) during the pandemic. The ongoing black swan kind of event (an unexpected event) has obligated global leadership to think in terms of the revival of multilateralism through GHD. Historically, multilateralism through GHD has been shown to play an important role in managing and combating pandemics. The article further discusses various theoretical aspects such as sovereignty and hegemonic stability theory as reasons for the failing of multilateralism. The paper concludes by emphasizing the importance of foresight in reviving multilateralism in the pursuit of a more sustainable future. Full article
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23 pages, 4070 KiB  
Article
Investigating COVID-19 News before and after the Soft Lockdown: An Example from Taiwan
by Hsin-Yu Kuo, Su-Yen Chen and Yu-Ting Lai
Sustainability 2021, 13(20), 11474; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132011474 - 17 Oct 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2285
Abstract
COVID-19 caused an unprecedented public health crisis and was declared a global pandemic on 11 March 2020, by the World Health Organization. The Taiwanese government’s early deployment mitigated the effect of the pandemic, yet the breakout in May 2021 brought a new challenge. [...] Read more.
COVID-19 caused an unprecedented public health crisis and was declared a global pandemic on 11 March 2020, by the World Health Organization. The Taiwanese government’s early deployment mitigated the effect of the pandemic, yet the breakout in May 2021 brought a new challenge. This study focuses on examining Taiwanese newspaper articles regarding the government response before and after the soft lockdown, collecting 125,570 articles reported by three major news channels from 31 December 2019, to 30 June 2021, and splitting them into four stages. Latent Dirichlet Allocation topic modeling and sentiment analysis were used to depict the overall picture of Taiwan’s pandemic. While the news media focused on the impact and shock of the pandemic in the initial stage, prevention measures were more present in the last stage. Then, to focus on the government response indicators, we retrieved 31,089 related news from 125,570 news articles and categorized them into ten indicators, finding the news centered on the fundamental measures that were taken early and that were transformed into advanced measures in the latest and hardest period of the pandemic. Furthermore, this paper examines the temporal distribution of the news related to each indicator with the support of a sentiment analysis of the news’ titles and content, indicating the preparation of Taiwanese society to confront the pandemic. Full article
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19 pages, 334 KiB  
Perspective
How the COVID-19 Pandemic Will Change Workplaces, Healthcare Markets and Healthy Living: An Overview and Assessment
by Heather Kolakowski, Mardelle McCuskey Shepley, Ellie Valenzuela-Mendoza and Nicolas R. Ziebarth
Sustainability 2021, 13(18), 10096; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su131810096 - 09 Sep 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4356
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted most aspects of our lives: how we work, how we socialize, how we provide health care, and how we take care of our most vulnerable members of society. In this perspectives article, we provide a multidisciplinary overview of [...] Read more.
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted most aspects of our lives: how we work, how we socialize, how we provide health care, and how we take care of our most vulnerable members of society. In this perspectives article, we provide a multidisciplinary overview of existing research covering these fields. Moreover, we enrich this research overview with news reporting and insights from a panel of expert practitioners affiliated with the Cornell Institute for Healthy Futures. We sketch existing evidence, focusing on how the pandemic has transformed our lives since March 2020. Then, for each of the fields covered by this article, we propose optimistic perspectives on what healthy living could look like in the future, given the current challenges and opportunities. In particular, we discuss the needed transformations of our workplaces, the health care market, senior living, healthy eating, and personal wellness. Full article
13 pages, 1253 KiB  
Article
Effects of Personal Hygiene Habits on Self-Efficacy for Preventing Infection, Infection-Preventing Hygiene Behaviors, and Product-Purchasing Behaviors
by Hyun Jung Yoo and Eugene Song
Sustainability 2021, 13(17), 9483; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13179483 - 24 Aug 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 7692
Abstract
Since there is no cure for the COVID-19 pandemic yet, personal hygiene management is important for protecting oneself from the deadly virus. Personal hygiene management comes from personal hygiene habits. Thus, this study investigated the association between personal hygiene habits, consumers’ infection-prevention behaviors, [...] Read more.
Since there is no cure for the COVID-19 pandemic yet, personal hygiene management is important for protecting oneself from the deadly virus. Personal hygiene management comes from personal hygiene habits. Thus, this study investigated the association between personal hygiene habits, consumers’ infection-prevention behaviors, and the effects of social support on the latter. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire survey of 620 Korean adults. An online survey agency was used to conduct the questionnaire over eight days, from 18 May to 25 May 2020. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The results were as follows. First, personal hygiene habits positively affected self-efficacy for infection prevention (β = 0.123, p < 0.01). Moreover, personal hygiene habits indirectly affected virus spread-prevention behaviors (β = 0.457, p < 0.000) and product-purchasing behaviors for infection prevention (β = 0.146, p < 0.01) through self-efficacy for infection prevention. Second, informational support for infection prevention increased self-efficacy influence for infection prevention on the virus spread prevention behaviors among the public (composite reliability: −2.627). Thus, continued education of the public is imperative to ensuring compliance with personal hygiene practices. Furthermore, timely dissemination of relevant information on infection-prevention practices through various media during an infection outbreak is critical. Full article
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13 pages, 239 KiB  
Article
Facing the Unknown: Healthcare Workers’ Concerns, Experiences, and Burnout during the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Mixed-Methods Study in an Israeli Hospital
by Keren Dopelt, Osnat Bashkin, Nadav Davidovitch and Noam Asna
Sustainability 2021, 13(16), 9021; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13169021 - 12 Aug 2021
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3480
Abstract
The aim of this study was to describe the experiences of healthcare workers during the first wave of the coronavirus crisis. In a mixed-methods study, data were collected through an online survey completed by 263 hospital staff members, as well as 10 semi-structured, [...] Read more.
The aim of this study was to describe the experiences of healthcare workers during the first wave of the coronavirus crisis. In a mixed-methods study, data were collected through an online survey completed by 263 hospital staff members, as well as 10 semi-structured, in-depth interviews with physicians, nurses, and medical technologists working on coronavirus wards. Respondents expressed extremely high levels of concern for family members, but they were less apprehensive about their own health and safety. Nurses displayed more apprehension and burnout compared to healthcare workers in other professional roles. The in-depth interviews reinforced and supplemented the survey findings and deepened our understanding of the experience of healthcare workers directly involved in the first wave of coronavirus patient care. The findings of this study illuminate the main concerns of hospital staff during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and deepen our understanding of issues that require systemic attention in order to strengthen mental resilience among hospital staff. The steps required to continue fighting the virus include the development of a mental and emotional support network for healthcare workers to safeguard them and their health, as they care for patients, and to provide ongoing psychosocial support. As later waves of COVID-19 continued, these recommendations are even more pertinent. Full article
14 pages, 288 KiB  
Article
The COVID-19 Pandemic and Sustainable Life of Korean Adolescents: Exploring Gender Differences
by Seunghee Yu and Chung Choe
Sustainability 2021, 13(16), 8821; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13168821 - 06 Aug 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2224
Abstract
To ensure that adolescents continue to lead healthy, well-adjusted lives—“sustainable lives”—after the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to examine the latter’s impact on various aspects of their lives compared to the socio-cultural context before the outbreak. This study used national representative data on [...] Read more.
To ensure that adolescents continue to lead healthy, well-adjusted lives—“sustainable lives”—after the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to examine the latter’s impact on various aspects of their lives compared to the socio-cultural context before the outbreak. This study used national representative data on Korean adolescents to analyze the impact of the pandemic on adolescent life from various perspectives, with a focus on gender differences. Our findings confirm that during the pandemic physical activity and sitting time for study purposes decreased, while sleeping and sitting for purposes other than studying increased, with more pronounced changes among girls. Drinking and smoking decreased and boys experienced greater decreases. The findings also indicated that the pandemic generated positive outcomes for mental health: stress, sadness/despair, and suicidal ideation decreased, which was counterintuitive to our general expectations, with a greater impact seen among girls. Full article
16 pages, 535 KiB  
Article
The Psychological and Social Impacts of Curfew during the COVID-19 Outbreak in Kuwait: A Cross-Sectional Study
by Ahmad Salman, Fatima Al-Ghadban, Kennedy Ouma Sigodo, Ayyoub K. Taher and Sungsoo Chun
Sustainability 2021, 13(15), 8464; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13158464 - 29 Jul 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3763
Abstract
The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in Kuwait led to a nationwide curfew between 22 March and August 2020. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 curfew during the pandemic on Kuwaiti citizens and residents. A cross-sectional survey was [...] Read more.
The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in Kuwait led to a nationwide curfew between 22 March and August 2020. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 curfew during the pandemic on Kuwaiti citizens and residents. A cross-sectional survey was used to collect data from Kuwaiti residents over the age of 21 through an online questionnaire shared via social media, including WhatsApp and Facebook. Data collection occurred between 18 June and 15 July 2020. Data from 679 respondents (57.9% females and 42.1% males; 67.7% Kuwaiti nationals and 32.3% non-Kuwaiti nationals) were analyzed. Symptoms of depression were reported among 59.8% of females and 51.0% of males, and extremely severe depression among 20.4% of females and 13.6% of males. Approximately 42.0% of females and 37.8% of males were under psychological distress, with 15.1% of females and 9.1% of males experiencing severe or extremely severe psychological distress. Over a third of females (34.9%) reported experiencing tensions or violent behaviors from family members, and 22.1% reported verbal or physical abuse. Among males, 26.4% reported experiencing tensions or violent behaviors, and 12.2% reported verbal or physical abuse. Extremely severe depression was associated with being female (2.00 times), aged 21–29 (4.56 times), experiencing tensions or violent behaviors from family members (4.56 times), being physically inactive (1.64 times), smoking cigarettes (3.02 times), and having poor or very poor quality of sleep (1.75 times). Severe or extremely severe psychological distress was associated with being female (3.09 times), aged 21–49 (3.68 times), having ill-health conditions or diseases (1.83 times), experiencing tension or violent behaviors from family members (3.56 times), smoking cigarettes (3.06 times), and having poor or very poor quality of sleep (2.20 times). Findings indicate that people living in Kuwait experienced negative psychological impacts, such as depression and psychological distress, attributable to the pandemic-related restrictions. Unpartnered females aged 21–49 are more mentally vulnerable than partnered males over the age of 50. Findings support an urgent need for targeted interventions to improve health behaviors and social support, including coping mechanisms specific to COVID-19 related stress, family counseling systems, and the provision of accessible and acceptable services using telehealth. Full article
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12 pages, 1157 KiB  
Article
Sustainable Development Goals in Early COVID-19 Prevention and Control
by Taejong Kim and Hyosun Kim
Sustainability 2021, 13(15), 8431; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13158431 - 28 Jul 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1814
Abstract
Recent failures in COVID-19 prevention and control in some of the richest countries raise questions about the relevance of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the fight against pandemics. To examine this issue, we adopted the measure of countries’ progress for the SDGs in [...] Read more.
Recent failures in COVID-19 prevention and control in some of the richest countries raise questions about the relevance of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the fight against pandemics. To examine this issue, we adopted the measure of countries’ progress for the SDGs in the SDG Index Scores (SDGS) and employed two analytical devices. The first was regression-aided adjustment of the number of deaths and confirmed cases. The second was the use of robust regressions to control the undue influence of outliers. The results are mixed. Between the SDGS and the adjusted infection rates, we found no significant correlation; however, between the SDGS and the adjusted death rates, the correlation was negative and statistically significant. These results provide a nuanced contrast to the hasty conclusions some of us might be tempted to draw from apparent positive correlations between SDGS and the cases and the deaths. The SDGs represent the fruit of painstaking global efforts to encourage and coordinate international action to enhance sustainability. We find the results reassuring, in that they suggest that the countries with higher SDGS have been able to control the devastation of deaths from COVID-19 more effectively, despite being unable to control the propagation of infections. Full article
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18 pages, 10011 KiB  
Systematic Review
COVID-19 Vaccination: What Do We Expect for the Future? A Systematic Literature Review of Social Science Publications in the First Year of the Pandemic (2020–2021)
by Lorenzo Pratici and Phillip McMinn Singer
Sustainability 2021, 13(15), 8259; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13158259 - 23 Jul 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2944
Abstract
The Covid-19 pandemic has had wide-reaching societal and economic effects and a return to “normal” will take years to accomplish. In light of this situation, the most important advancement since COVID-19′s emergence has been the development of multiple, life-saving, vaccines. Academic research on [...] Read more.
The Covid-19 pandemic has had wide-reaching societal and economic effects and a return to “normal” will take years to accomplish. In light of this situation, the most important advancement since COVID-19′s emergence has been the development of multiple, life-saving, vaccines. Academic research on vaccine has been extensive. It is estimated that in only one year it has been produced more published and indexed papers on this single issue than in the last twenty years on any other single issue, thus, necessitating some organization. This research consists of a systematic literature review of the social science publication on COVID-19 published in the first year of the pandemic (February 2020 to March 2021). This review is important because it occurs at a time when vaccines have begun their global distribution and the best efforts to address the pandemic is through vaccination programs. In this research, 53 papers published in relevant journals are analyzed out of the almost 30,000 articles retrieved from Scopus database. The analysis conducted relies on two different types: descriptive analysis (evolution at the time of citations; evolution over time of keywords; bibliographical mapping of countries, the top 10 most influential papers), and bibliometric analysis for content evaluation. A cluster analysis was performed for the latter. Clustering the research papers, based on the actual content of papers, found there to be five research areas: (1) economic aspects; (2) ethics and legal aspects; (3) health communication; (4) policies and crisis management, and (5) political issues. Yet, this article’s results paint a picture of literature that has not yet considered the full scope of COVID-19’s effect on the economic, political, and population level health and well-being. Nor has it considered these effects across the global community, suggesting new potential areas of research and giving a perspective of what we should expect for the future. Full article
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18 pages, 5681 KiB  
Review
Food Security, Environmental Health, and the Economy in Mexico: Lessons Learned with the COVID-19
by Rebeca Monroy-Torres, Ángela Castillo-Chávez, Erika Carcaño-Valencia, Marco Hernández-Luna, Alex Caldera-Ortega, Alma Serafín-Muñoz, Benigno Linares-Segovia, Karen Medina-Jiménez, Octavio Jiménez-Garza, Monserrat Méndez-Pérez and Sergio López-Briones
Sustainability 2021, 13(13), 7470; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13137470 - 05 Jul 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 6805
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic showed an impact mainly on the health of people and the economy of households. The levels of food security in the world’s households, especially in Mexico, have decreased. When people do not have food security, their health is compromised and [...] Read more.
The COVID-19 pandemic showed an impact mainly on the health of people and the economy of households. The levels of food security in the world’s households, especially in Mexico, have decreased. When people do not have food security, their health is compromised and they have financial problems; on the other hand, environmental deterioration has a link with food security. The purpose of this review is to analysis of the current situation in Mexico of food security, environmental health and economy, the main lessons learned in these areas and their proposals integrating public policies. A review was carried out in the main databases (MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL Plus, Web of Science, CAB Abstracts y PAIS Index) with the following keywords and according to the MeSH terms: Food security, food insecurity, environmental health, public policies, environmental, production, integrating the word COVID-19 in English and Spanish. Only 44.5% of Mexican households presented food security. For food insecurity, 22.6% had moderate and severe food insecurity, while 32.9% had mild insecurity. Food insecurity and the health impacts of environmental origin (waste management during the coronavirus pandemic, water contaminated by bacteria, viruses, and toxins; air pollution) generates impacts on economic activity by not offering food that meets health regulations. Without the application of cost-effective measures and interventions for the prevention and control of patients with obesity, the direct costs for 2023 will amount to 9 million dollars, which worsens the household economy. Despite having laws and policies on the right to food, a healthy environment (water), and opportunities for economic growth, these human rights are not fulfilled. The conclusion is that it is necessary to use a health and agroecological model to promote public policies (health, environment, and economy) that aims to prevent the discussed issues, with multidisciplinary and intersectoral interventions (government, academia, researchers, civil society organizations, industry, and population). This upholds the human right that all people should enjoy an adequate, healthy environment and have access to high-quality food. Full article
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17 pages, 318 KiB  
Article
Dialectical Tensions of Sustainability and Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Tale from Latin America
by Adriana Angel, Lissette Marroquin-Velasquez and Sandra Idrovo
Sustainability 2021, 13(13), 7387; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13137387 - 01 Jul 2021
Viewed by 2134
Abstract
The purpose of this article is to discuss the relationship between sustainability and health in the context of the coronavirus pandemic in Latin America, the region with the second highest number of deaths due to COVID-19. After performing a dialectical analysis on mass [...] Read more.
The purpose of this article is to discuss the relationship between sustainability and health in the context of the coronavirus pandemic in Latin America, the region with the second highest number of deaths due to COVID-19. After performing a dialectical analysis on mass media discourses about the pandemic, we argue that sustainability must be understood in relation to tensions such as (a) health and economy, (b) isolation and interconnectedness of health management, and (c) access to and excess of information about the pandemic. Based on this analysis, we suggest that if health is to be considered a fourth pillar of sustainability, it needs to be approached in close connection with these inseparable and irreducible tensions in order to broaden the way in which it has been approached in global sustainable development agendas and to recognize the role of individuals and communities in health issues. Full article
18 pages, 6986 KiB  
Article
“We Need such a Space”: Residents’ Motives for Visiting Urban Green Spaces during the COVID-19 Pandemic
by Shixian Luo, Jing Xie and Katsunori Furuya
Sustainability 2021, 13(12), 6806; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13126806 - 16 Jun 2021
Cited by 26 | Viewed by 4321
Abstract
Since the outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia in 2019, several cities have been blocked to prevent the expansion of the infection. This qualitative study aimed to determine the motives of urban residents for visiting urban green spaces during the epidemic (especially within [...] Read more.
Since the outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia in 2019, several cities have been blocked to prevent the expansion of the infection. This qualitative study aimed to determine the motives of urban residents for visiting urban green spaces during the epidemic (especially within the context of the city blockade), and what might weaken these motives. In total, 47 residents (17 men and 30 women) were recruited from Chengdu, in China, to participate in interviews. A thematic analysis was used to analyze the interview data. According to the results, the motives of the respondents were divided into strong motives and weak motives. These strong motives for visiting UGS can be divided into four themes: “A place for health”, “Escape”, “Social support”, and “A safe and important place for outdoor activities”. Residents classified as the weak motive primarily considered the reasons of “Keep distance with others”, “Potential infection risk” and “Seek compensation”. The results of this study are significant for current and future urban management, green space planning, and social well-being. Full article
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25 pages, 1031 KiB  
Review
The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Social, Health, and Economy
by Vicente Javier Clemente-Suárez, Eduardo Navarro-Jiménez, Libertad Moreno-Luna, María Concepción Saavedra-Serrano, Manuel Jimenez, Juan Antonio Simón and Jose Francisco Tornero-Aguilera
Sustainability 2021, 13(11), 6314; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13116314 - 02 Jun 2021
Cited by 74 | Viewed by 17236
Abstract
In late December 2019, a series of acute atypical respiratory disease occurred in Wuhan, China, which rapidly spread to other areas worldwide. It was soon discovered that a novel coronavirus was responsible, named the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2, 2019-nCoV). The impact [...] Read more.
In late December 2019, a series of acute atypical respiratory disease occurred in Wuhan, China, which rapidly spread to other areas worldwide. It was soon discovered that a novel coronavirus was responsible, named the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2, 2019-nCoV). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the population’s health is unprecedented in recent years and the impact on a social level even more so. The COVID-19 pandemic is the most large-scale pandemic on earth this century, and the impact in all life sectors is devasting and directly affected human activity in the first wave. The impact on the economy, social care systems, and human relationships is causing an unprecedented global crisis. SARS-CoV-2 has a strong direct acute impact on population health, not only at the physiological level but also at the psychological level for those who suffer it, those close to them, and the general population, who suffer from the social consequences of the pandemic. In this line, the economic recession increased, even more, the social imbalance and inequity, hitting the most vulnerable families, and creating a difficult context for public institutions to address. We are facing one of the greatest challenges of social intervention, which requires fast, effective, and well-coordinated responses from public institutions, the private sector, and non-governmental organizations to serve an increasingly hopeless population with increasingly urgent needs. Long-term legislation is necessary to reduce the vulnerability of the less fortunate, as well as to analyze the societal response to improve the social organization management of available resources. Therefore, in this scoping review, a consensus and critical review were performed using both primary sources, such as scientific articles, and secondary ones, such as bibliographic indexes, web pages, and databases. The main search engines were PubMed, SciELO, and Google Scholar. The method was a narrative literature review of the available literature. The aim was to assess the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on population health, where the possible interventions at the health level are discussed, the impact in economic and social areas, and the government and health systems interventions in the pandemic, and finally, possible economic models for the recovery of the crisis are proposed. Full article
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10 pages, 1362 KiB  
Article
Application of an Innovative Model for the Risk Management of COVID-19 in a Multinational Manufacturing Company
by Piero Lovreglio, Angela Stufano, Francesco Cagnazzo, Nicola Bartolomeo and Ivo Iavicoli
Sustainability 2021, 13(11), 5771; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13115771 - 21 May 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1907
Abstract
The COVID-19 incidence in 61 manufacturing plants in Europe (EU), North America (NA) and Latin-America (LATAM) was compared with the incidence observed in the countries where the plants are located in order to evaluate the application of an innovative model for COVID-19 risk [...] Read more.
The COVID-19 incidence in 61 manufacturing plants in Europe (EU), North America (NA) and Latin-America (LATAM) was compared with the incidence observed in the countries where the plants are located in order to evaluate the application of an innovative model for COVID-19 risk management. Firstly, a network of local and global teams was created, including an external university occupational physician team for scientific support. In July 2020, global prevention guidelines for the homogenous management of the pandemic were applied, replacing different site or regional procedures. A tool for COVID-19 monitoring was implemented to investigate the relationship between the incidence rates inside and outside the plants. In the period of May–November 2020, 565 confirmed cases (EU 330, NA 141, LATAM 94) were observed among 20,646 workers with different jobs and tasks, and in the last two months 85% EU and 70% NA cases were recorded. Only in 10% of cases was a possible internal origin of the contagion not excluded. In the EU and NA, unlike LATAM, the COVID-19 incidence rates inside the sites punctually followed the rising trend outside. In conclusion, the model, combining a global approach with the local application of the measures, maintains the sustainability in the manufacturing industry. Full article
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17 pages, 2985 KiB  
Review
The Severity of COVID-19 and Its Determinants: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis in China
by Ning Zhang, Tao Xie, Wei Ning, Rongxin He, Bin Zhu and Ying Mao
Sustainability 2021, 13(9), 5305; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13095305 - 10 May 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3498
Abstract
To analyse the prevalence of severe and critical COVID-19 cases and its determinants, a systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted using Review Manager. Four English and two Chinese databases were used to identify and explore the relationships between the severity of COVID-19 and [...] Read more.
To analyse the prevalence of severe and critical COVID-19 cases and its determinants, a systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted using Review Manager. Four English and two Chinese databases were used to identify and explore the relationships between the severity of COVID-19 and its determinants, with no restrictions on publication date. The odds ratio and 95% CI were combined to assess the influencing level of all factors. Twenty-three articles containing a total of 15,828 cases of COVID-19 were included in this systematic review. The prevalence of severe and critical COVID-19 cases was 17.84% and 4.9%, respectively. A total of 148 factors were identified, which included behavioural, symptom, comorbidity, laboratory, radiographic, exposure, and other factors. Among them, 35 factors could be included in the meta-analysis. Specifically, for example, the male (OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.42–1.69) and elderly (OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.03–1.10) populations tended to experience severe and critical illness. Patients with cough, dyspnea, fatigue, fever, and gastrointestinal symptoms could have severe and critical diseases. Regarding laboratory results, albumin, aspartate aminotransferase, creatinine, D-dimer, fibrinogen, neutrophils, procalcitonin, platelets, and respiratory rate were potential factors that could be used to predict the severity of COVID. Full article
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21 pages, 357 KiB  
Review
Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic in Public Mental Health: An Extensive Narrative Review
by Vicente Javier Clemente-Suárez, Eduardo Navarro-Jiménez, Manuel Jimenez, Alberto Hormeño-Holgado, Marina Begoña Martinez-Gonzalez, Juan Camilo Benitez-Agudelo, Natalia Perez-Palencia, Carmen Cecilia Laborde-Cárdenas and Jose Francisco Tornero-Aguilera
Sustainability 2021, 13(6), 3221; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13063221 - 15 Mar 2021
Cited by 56 | Viewed by 9854
Abstract
The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has surprised health authorities around the world producing a global health crisis. This research discusses the main psychosocial stressors associated with COVID-19 in the literature, and the responses of global public mental health services to these events. [...] Read more.
The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has surprised health authorities around the world producing a global health crisis. This research discusses the main psychosocial stressors associated with COVID-19 in the literature, and the responses of global public mental health services to these events. Thus, a consensus and critical review were performed using both primary sources, such as scientific articles and secondary ones, such as bibliographic indexes, web pages, and databases. The main search engines were PubMed, SciELO, and Google Scholar. The method was a systematic literature review (SLR) of the available literature regarding mental health services during the COVID-19 pandemic to conduct the present narrative review. Different stressors are identified in this pandemic, from psychophysiological, confinement, to social and work. Depending on the level of severity and the country of origin, various interventions have been applied that mark different ways of returning to normality and preparing new interventions. This new stressor has a direct impact on the mental health of the population, provoking governments, and health services to become more flexible, innovate and adapt to the changing situation. The use of technology and mass media could be an important tool in this aim. Independent of this, preparing the general population for possible future waves of the pandemic is currently the best measure to mitigate more serious effects on the mental health of the population. Full article

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23 pages, 1567 KiB  
Article
The Crisis of Public Health and Infodemic: Analyzing Belief Structure of Fake News about COVID-19 Pandemic
by Seoyong Kim and Sunhee Kim
Sustainability 2020, 12(23), 9904; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12239904 - 26 Nov 2020
Cited by 44 | Viewed by 11143
Abstract
False information about COVID-19 is being produced and disseminated on a large scale, impeding efforts to rapidly impose quarantines. Thus, in addition to the COVID-19 pandemic itself, an infodemic related with it is leading to social crises. This study therefore investigates who believes [...] Read more.
False information about COVID-19 is being produced and disseminated on a large scale, impeding efforts to rapidly impose quarantines. Thus, in addition to the COVID-19 pandemic itself, an infodemic related with it is leading to social crises. This study therefore investigates who believes the misinformation that is being produced in the context of COVID-19. We choose two main factors—risk perception factor, so called psychometric paradigm, and communication factor—as independent variables that can affect belief in misinformation related to COVID-19. The results show that, among psychometric variables, perceived risk and stigma positively impact belief in fake news, whereas perceived benefit and trust have negative effects. Among communication factors, source credibility and the quantity of information reduce belief in fake news, whereas the credibility of information sources increases these beliefs. Stigma has the greatest explanatory power among the variables, followed by health status, heuristic information processing, trust, and subjective social class. Full article
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30 pages, 4894 KiB  
Article
A Bibliometric Analysis of COVID-19 across Science and Social Science Research Landscape
by Aleksander Aristovnik, Dejan Ravšelj and Lan Umek
Sustainability 2020, 12(21), 9132; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12219132 - 03 Nov 2020
Cited by 114 | Viewed by 12667
Abstract
The lack of knowledge about the COVID-19 pandemic has encouraged extensive research in the academic sphere, reflected in the exponentially growing scientific literature. While the state of COVID-19 research reveals it is currently in an early stage of developing knowledge, a comprehensive and [...] Read more.
The lack of knowledge about the COVID-19 pandemic has encouraged extensive research in the academic sphere, reflected in the exponentially growing scientific literature. While the state of COVID-19 research reveals it is currently in an early stage of developing knowledge, a comprehensive and in-depth overview is still missing. Accordingly, the paper’s main aim is to provide an extensive bibliometric analysis of COVID-19 research across the science and social science research landscape, using innovative bibliometric approaches (e.g., Venn diagram, Biblioshiny descriptive statistics, VOSviewer co-occurrence network analysis, Jaccard distance cluster analysis, text mining based on binary logistic regression). The bibliometric analysis considers the Scopus database, including all relevant information on COVID-19 related publications (n = 16,866) available in the first half of 2020. The empirical results indicate the domination of health sciences in terms of number of relevant publications and total citations, while physical sciences and social sciences and humanities lag behind significantly. Nevertheless, there is an evidence of COVID-19 research collaboration within and between different subject area classifications with a gradual increase in importance of non-health scientific disciplines. The findings emphasize the great need for a comprehensive and in-depth approach that considers various scientific disciplines in COVID-19 research so as to benefit not only the scientific community but evidence-based policymaking as part of efforts to properly respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Full article
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0 pages, 347 KiB  
Article
Sense of Coherence and Psychological Distress Among Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Spain
by Juan Gómez-Salgado, Sara Domínguez-Salas, Macarena Romero-Martín, Mónica Ortega-Moreno, Juan Jesús García-Iglesias and Carlos Ruiz-Frutos
Sustainability 2020, 12(17), 6855; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12176855 - 24 Aug 2020
Cited by 53 | Viewed by 8200
Abstract
The health crisis triggered by COVID-19 and the preventive measures taken to control it have caused a strong psychological impact on the population, especially on healthcare professionals. Risk exposure, uncertainty about how to approach the disease, care and emotional overburden, lack of resources, [...] Read more.
The health crisis triggered by COVID-19 and the preventive measures taken to control it have caused a strong psychological impact on the population, especially on healthcare professionals. Risk exposure, uncertainty about how to approach the disease, care and emotional overburden, lack of resources, or unclear ever-changing protocols are, among others, psychological distress risk factors for the healthcare professionals who have faced this dramatic scenario on the front line. On the other hand, the Sense of Coherence (SOC) is a competence that could help these professionals perceive the situation as understandable, manageable, and meaningful, facilitating the activation of their resilience. This work aims to describe the levels of psychological distress and SOC of healthcare professionals during the crisis caused by COVID-19, the relationship between both variables, and their health status. A cross-sectional descriptive study with a sample of 1459 currently active healthcare workers was developed. GHQ-12 and SOC-13 were used for data collection. Bivariate analyses were performed, including Chi-Squared Test, Student’s T-Test, Analysis of Variance—ANOVA (with Bonferroni test for multiple comparisons), and correlations. Cohen’s d or Cramer’s V effect size measurements were also provided. The results showed that 80.6% of healthcare professionals had psychological distress, and the mean score on the SOC-13 scale was 62.8 points (SD = 12.02). Both psychological distress and SOC were related to the presence of COVID-19 symptoms, as well as with contact history. Professionals with psychological distress showed a lower SOC. Taking care of the mental health of healthcare professionals is essential to effectively cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the psychological impact of working in the current menacing scenario, people on the front line against the disease should be protected, minimizing risks, providing them with resources and support, and fostering their coping skills. Full article
17 pages, 2373 KiB  
Article
Urban Parks as Green Buffers During the COVID-19 Pandemic
by Jing Xie, Shixian Luo, Katsunori Furuya and Dajiang Sun
Sustainability 2020, 12(17), 6751; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12176751 - 20 Aug 2020
Cited by 167 | Viewed by 15576
Abstract
In many parts of the world, concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic and city quarantine policy have led to a general decline in the physical and mental health of residents due to insufficient social interaction. These adverse effects can cause potential public health risks. [...] Read more.
In many parts of the world, concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic and city quarantine policy have led to a general decline in the physical and mental health of residents due to insufficient social interaction. These adverse effects can cause potential public health risks. Ways to alleviate the adverse impact of the pandemic and meet social interaction needs must be widely addressed. This survey was conducted from 1–5 April 2020; it collected 386 responses from residents of Chengdu, China, during the pandemic based on an online survey questionnaire. The results indicate that most of the residents believe their health status is poor, and that they do not experience adequate social contact with others. Most of the respondents indicated no difference in mental health, while a few reported differences in their physical health and social interaction levels. Visiting urban parks can significantly improve overall health and assist in meeting individuals’ social interaction needs. Although residents have reduced the frequency of visits during the pandemic, even once a week can be beneficial. This paper emphasizes the critical role of urban parks during the pandemic period from the perspective of the urban building environment. The conclusion affirms that urban parks and large outdoor, open spaces can provide residents with a place for safe outdoor activities and social interaction in a green environment during a pandemic, as well as serve as a buffer area to maintain favorable health and quality of life. Full article
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