Coping During Covid-19: Social and Physical Distance
Guiding Questions to Consider:
- How have precautionary guidelines affected people?
- How are they coping with keeping distance from others and being isolated in their homes?
The terms quarantine, lockdown, and isolation are key terms during this time. Social Distance that refers to holding a physical distance to others around us is common to everyone’s dictions nowadays. So, in this category we present some of the literature that deals with holding social and hence physical distance from others, and how it has affected the people.
The immediate mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic among people with or without quarantine managements
Summary: Does quarantine directly affect mental health? This is the guiding question that the researchers attempted to answer. The researchers observed that participants endured mental health problems regardless of whether or not they were subject to quarantine. They ultimately did not find a direct association between mental health status and quarantine.
Citation: Zhu, S., Wu, Y., Zhu, C., Hong, W., Yu, Z., Chen, Z., … Wang, Y. (2020). The immediate mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic among people with or without quarantine managements. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 87, 56–58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2020.04.045
The psychological impact of quarantine and how to reduce it: Rapid review of the evidence
Summary: Someone who is interested in the impact of quarantine on psychological well-being will find this article informative and a good place to start. This review paper gives an overview of previous studies, provides explanation and interpretation, and suggests ways to subvert the negative impact of quarantine.
Citation: Brooks, S. K., Webster, R. K., Smith, L. E., Woodland, L., Wessely, S., Greenberg, N., & Rubin, G. J. (2020). The psychological impact of quarantine and how to reduce it: rapid review of the evidence. The Lancet, 395(10227), 912–920. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(20)30460-8
Impact of the COVID-19 virus outbreak on movement and play behaviours of Canadian children and youth: a national survey
Summary: This national sample of Canadian parents completed an online survey in which they assessed their chidlren’s movement and play behaviours at the outbreak of COVID-19. According to this study, a very small number of children and youth met the guidelines for movement behaviours; they were sleeping more, and spending less time actively moving and being outside.
Citation: Moore, S. A., Faulkner, G., Rhodes, R. E., Brussoni, M., Chulak-Bozzer, T., Ferguson, L. J., … Tremblay, M. S. (2020). Impact of the COVID-19 virus outbreak on movement and play behaviours of Canadian children and youth: a national survey. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-020-00987-8
Physically Isolated but Socially Connected: Psychological Adjustment and Stress Among Adolescents During the Initial COVID-19 Crisis
Summary: A study on how adolescents ages 14-18 years old are affected and cope with school closure and physical distancing, the emphasis lies on measuring feelings of loneliness and depression as well as the time spent with family, social media, reconnecting virtually with friends and physical activity. Overall, there is a high prevalence of feeling depressed and lonely.
Citation: Ellis, W. E., Dumas, T. M., & Forbes, L. M. (2020). Physically isolated but socially connected: Psychological adjustment and stress among adolescents during the initial COVID-19 crisis. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science / Revue canadienne des sciences du comportement, 52(3), 177-187. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/cbs0000215
Further Reading:
Mental health considerations for children quarantined because of COVID-19
Citation: Liu, J. J., Bao, Y., Huang, X., Shi, J., & Lu, L. (2020). Mental health considerations for children quarantined because of COVID-19. The Lancet. Child & adolescent health, 4(5), 347–349. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-4642(20)30096-1
Mitigate the effects of home confinement on children during the COVID-19 outbreak
Citation: Wang, G., Zhang, Y., Zhao, J., Zhang, J., & Jiang, F. (2020). Mitigate the effects of home confinement on children during the COVID-19 outbreak. Lancet (London, England), 395(10228), 945–947. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30547-X
Face masks for the public during the covid-19 crisis
Citation: Greenhalgh, T., Schmid, M. B., Czypionka, T., Bassler, D., & Gruer, L. (2020). Face masks for the public during the covid-19 crisis. BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 369, m1435. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m1435
Wearing face masks in the community during the COVID-19
Citation: Cheng, K. K., Lam, T. H., & Leung, C. C. (2020). Wearing face masks in the community during the COVID-19 pandemic: altruism and solidarity. The Lancet. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(20)30918-1
Mask or no mask fo COVID-19: A public health and market study
Citation: Li T, Liu Y, Li M, Qian X, Dai SY (2020) Mask or no mask for COVID-19: A public health and market study. PLOS ONE 15(8): e0237691.