COVID Related Resources
COVID and Wellbeing in the News
Covid: The devastating toll of the pandemic on children
Nick Triggle
They are not likely to get seriously ill with Covid and there have been very few deaths. But children are still the victims of the virus - and our response to it - in many other ways.
From increasing rates of mental health problems to concerns about rising levels of abuse and neglect and the potential harm being done to the development of babies, the pandemic is threatening to have a devastating legacy on the nation's young.
Looking forward rather than backward safeguards wellbeing during COVID-19 lockdowns
University of Surrey
Practicing gratitude and looking to the future will help safeguard our mental wellbeing during future COVID-19 lockdowns, a new study in the Journal of Positive Psychology reports.
In the first study of its kind, researchers from the University of Surrey investigated the effectiveness of three psychological interventions—nostalgia, a sentimentality for the past; gratitude, recognizing the good things currently in our life; and best possible self, thinking about positive elements of the future—and how they each affect wellbeing during lockdowns. Personal characteristics such as emotion regulation (the ability to respond to and manage an emotional experience) and attachment orientations (how a person views their relationships to others) were also examined. It is believed that such traits may be an indicator of how an individual responds to lockdowns.
COVID-19 pandemic triggers largest drop in US life expectancy in decades
Rich Haridy
A new study from researchers at Princeton University and the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, projects the COVID-19 pandemic to potentially generate the largest single-year decline in US life expectancy since the 1918 influenza pandemic. The declines are especially prominent in minority communities, and are expected to continue over the coming years as the country grapples with the repercussions of the novel disease.
Life expectancy calculations often serve as helpful indications of general health in a population. Over the last few decades life expectancy in the United States has incrementally increased. However, tiny declines have been detected and they often deliver important insights into broader societal issues.
Certain parenting behaviors associated with positive changes in well-being during COVID-19 pandemic
Society for Research in Child Development
During the COVID-19 pandemic, parents have been faced with challenging circumstances to balance work, household, care of children and support of distance learning for school-age children without help from their regular support systems such as schools, childcare, and often other family members as well. A new longitudinal study in Germany examined day-to-day parenting behavior during the restrictions and closures caused by the pandemic from the end of March until the end of April 2020. Research showed that autonomy-supportive parenting (offering meaningful choices when possible) contributed to positive well-being for both children and parents.
Emotional Well-Being and Coping During COVID-19
These are unprecedented times. We need to work extra hard to manage our emotions well. Expect to have a lot of mixed feelings. Naturally we feel anxiety, and maybe waves of panic, particularly when seeing new headlines. An article by stress scientist and Vice Chair of Adult Psychology Elissa Epel, PhD, outlines the psychology behind the COVID-19 panic response and how we can try to make the best of this situation. Her tips can be found below.
Our anxiety is helping us cope, bond together from a physical distance, and slow the spread of the virus. So our anxiety - while uncomfortable - is a good thing right now, especially if we manage it well. At the same time, we must effortfully prevent panic contagion and create periods when we can be screen-free and calm, engaging our attention in normal daily activities. Seize opportunities to share lightness and humor. Laughter right now is a relief for all of us!
Addressing COVID Mental Health Effects at Work
Wendy Burch
Not only has the pandemic caused a tremendous amount of stress, but it has also exacerbated many people's mental health disorders. How can you make the work environment a safe and comfortable place for them, and ensure everyone is coping well with current events? Here are some tips from the New York State branch of the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
How Pets Can Promote Humans’ Wellbeing Via Touch-Based Interactions During COVID-19
Mary Stroka
The researchers explored how touch-based interactions between people and their pets promote the human’s wellbeing and provide a method of “bridging the physical intimacy and connection gap” of COVID-19 in an Australian study published in the Journal of Behavioral Economics for Policy.
The study authors recruited 32 pet owners aged 59 years to 83 years (mean: 70 years) for qualitative semi-structured interviews via public calls on radio and snowball sampling. Pet diversity reflected global and Australian pet ownership patterns of dogs, cats, birds, and reptiles. The animals included sheep and 1 crocodile.
COVID and Wellbeing in Academic Journals
COVID-19: the intersection of education and health
The Lancet
What lessons does the COVID-19 syndemic offer when considering the convergence between health and education? The International Day of Education, on Jan 24, provides an opportunity to reflect on the weaknesses of the education system before COVID-19, and on the impact of school closures and education disruptions on children and adolescents. Since March, 2020, more than 1·5 billion students worldwide—an unprecedented number—have been affected by school or university closures. The implications of these closures are enormous. In addition to the loss of learning, a lack of access to school means that many children lose protection from hazards such as domestic violence and child abuse, others lose access to the only nutritious meal of their day, and many will miss immunisations that are often given at school. Furthermore, school closures deprive children and adolescents of social and emotional experiences essential for their development and wellbeing.
Health-Related Quality of Life and its Associated Factors in COVID-19 Patients
The effect of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on health-related quality of life in children
Dery Adıbelli, Adem Sümen
- The coronavirus outbreak causes fear and anxiety in society.
- Parents reported that their children gained weight during the pandemic.
- Parents reported that their children tendency to sleep increased during the pandemic.
- Parents reported that their children Internet use increased during the pandemic.
- The self-reported quality of life scores of children were generally good.
Persistence of symptoms and quality of life at 35 days after hospitalization for COVID-19 infection
Characterizing the prevalence and persistence of symptoms associated with COVID-19 infection following hospitalization and their impact is essential to planning post-acute community-based clinical services. This study seeks to identify persistent COVID-19 symptoms in patients 35 days post-hospitalization and their impact on quality of life, health, physical, mental, and psychosocial function.
Quality of Life and Physical Performance After Novel Coronavirus Infection (COVID-19)
This study aims to observe the long-term health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and physical performance in individuals hospitalized due to a COVID-19 infection. Therefore, data is extracted from a study-site standard aftercare program which has been adjusted for this patient population. This comprehensive aftercare program includes education sessions and physical exercise. A second aim is to observe adherence and feasibility to the program and if indicated compare the clinical data and outcomes from patients following the program with patients denying to participate in guided exercise and education sessions.
It is expected that patients hospitalized due to COVID-19 infection show a reduction in physical performance and HRQOL directly after discharge. The severity of illness is hypothesized to be associated with a reduction as well in HRQOL and physical performance after one-year post-discharge.
Valuing all lives equally: cancer surgery, COVID-19, and the NHS in crisis
The Lancet Oncology
As COVID-19 infections continue to increase at an unprecedented rate, and the UK enters the toughest phase of the pandemic so far, the National Health Service (NHS) finds itself under the most pressure seen in its 72-year history. With the majority of intensive care beds occupied by patients with COVID-19, Kings College Hospital in London was one of the first to take the drastic action to cancel urgent cancer surgeries. However, it is not alone, as other NHS hospitals in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Cambridge, Essex, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, to name just a few, have also started to cancel urgent cancer surgeries.
Too long to wait: the impact of COVID-19 on elective surgery
The Lancet Rheumatology
As health-care systems worldwide scrambled to cope with the first wave of COVID-19, many countries made the necessary decision to cancel all non-emergency surgical procedures to free up personnel and resources to care for patients with COVID-19. Nearly 10 million people in the UK are now waiting for surgical procedures, up from 4 million before the pandemic hit. Among them are nearly 100 000 patients whose joint replacement surgeries were cancelled during the first COVID-19 wave, many of whom are left struggling with daily activities because of severe pain and limited mobility. The UK is not alone in this dilemma; a US report projected a backlog of more than 1 million joint and spinal surgeries by mid-2022. Drastic measures will be required to clear these backlogs.
COVID and Wellbeing Online Resources
Coping with Stress
Center for Disease Control (CDC)
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major effect on our lives. Many of us are facing challenges that can be stressful, overwhelming, and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Public health actions, such as social distancing, are necessary to reduce the spread of COVID-19, but they can make us feel isolated and lonely and can increase stress and anxiety. Learning to cope with stress in a healthy way will make you, the people you care about, and those around you become more resilient.
Well-being Resources Addressing Resilience During COVID-19
American Hospital Association (AHA)
Well-being resources to address mental health and resilience for clinician leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic.
APA Coronavirus Resources
American Psychiatric Association (APA)
To provide support in the response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), APA is collecting authoritative and timely resources in this information hub.
Mental Health and COVID-19
Mental Health America (MHA)
Our mental health is in constant flux and ebbs and flows on a daily basis. Many things can impact this including our physical health. The connection between our physical body and our mental health is important and may be something worth exploring when thinking about staying mentally healthy. Learn more about whole health and what you can do to improve your overall wellness including preparing for your wellness during the COVID-19 outbreak.
How has Covid-19 affected wellbeing across the world?
what works wellbeing
From the Centre: This research provides a snapshot of some people’s Covid-19 related experiences, but is not representative of the general population. The survey sample included 3,000 people from 97 diverse countries that experienced different levels of infection and policy responses. People were voluntarily recruited to answer the survey by the Happiness Institute through their existing network and audience. Respondents were predominantly female (83%) and mostly between the ages of 25-34 (32%) and 35- 44 (25%)
COVID-19 has shifted employer focus to health and wellbeing
Paladina Health
Without a doubt, COVID-19 has upended life in the United States, altering our daily habits and social interactions. It also has changed the way we work, creating many new problems, processes and opportunities, while accelerating some transformations already starting to take place before coronavirus. Employers have confronted unprecedented challenges, both economically and operationally, struggling to maintain a bottom line while still protecting the wellbeing of their employees.
As a result of the financial burdens of COVID-19, health care costs, already spiking before the virus overwhelmed the country, are expected to escalate further. Some experts predict the added cost to be in the billions of dollars. Understanding how companies have experienced and reacted to the coronavirus crisis was the aim of a recent survey sponsored by the nonprofit Business Group on Health.
