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Sandhu S, Wilson E, Chattopadhyay K. Perceptions and Experiences of Undergraduate Students Regarding Social Media as a Tool for Government COVID-19-Related Messages: A Qualitative Study in Nottingham, UK. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:6903. [PMID: 37887641 PMCID: PMC10606761 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20206903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
The rise of social media has given way to its use as a form of public health communication. Previous research has shown social media-based interventions to be effective, particularly for university students. Social media was used as a tool for public health messaging during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, there is a lack of information regarding the experiences and perceptions of such messaging and its effectiveness among UK university students. A qualitative study was conducted to explore the perceptions and experiences of public health messaging on social media during the pandemic, as well as the effects of such messaging. Fourteen semi-structured interviews with undergraduate students at the University of Nottingham, UK, were conducted. Five main themes were identified: effects of COVID-19 on university students, use of social media by university students, COVID-19 messaging on social media, effects of public health messaging on social media in compliance with COVID-19 guidelines, and improving public health messaging for the future. This study provides a novel insight into the experiences and perceptions of undergraduate students at a UK university regarding public health messaging on social media during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanvir Sandhu
- Nottingham Centre for Public Health and Epidemiology, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK; (E.W.); (K.C.)
- Centre for Interprofessional Education and Learning, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Emma Wilson
- Nottingham Centre for Public Health and Epidemiology, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK; (E.W.); (K.C.)
- Nottingham Centre for Evidence Based Healthcare, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Kaushik Chattopadhyay
- Nottingham Centre for Public Health and Epidemiology, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK; (E.W.); (K.C.)
- Nottingham Centre for Evidence Based Healthcare, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
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Amsalem D, Jankowski SE, Pagdon S, Valeri L, Yang LH, Markowitz JC, Neria Y, Pescosolido BA, Dixon LB, Martin A. Selfie Videos to Reduce Stigma and Increase Treatment Seeking Among Youths: Two Noninferiority Randomized Controlled Trials. Psychiatr Serv 2023; 74:229-236. [PMID: 36254455 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.20220168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Confronting stigma early in life could enhance treatment seeking. In two randomized controlled trials (RCTs), one focused on psychosis and the other on adolescent depression, the efficacy and equivalence of brief social contact-based videos were evaluated and compared with a control condition. The outcomes of interest were changes in illness-related stigma and treatment-seeking intention. The hypotheses were that the intervention videos would show greater efficacy than control conditions and that traditional and selfie videos would demonstrate similar efficacy. METHODS Young adults (study 1, N=895) and adolescents (study 2, N=637) were randomly assigned to view intervention videos (in traditional or selfie styles) or to a control condition. In short videos (58-102 seconds), young presenters humanized their illness by emotionally describing their struggles and discussing themes of recovery and hope. RESULTS Repeated-measures analyses of variance and paired t tests showed significant differences in stigma and treatment seeking between the intervention and control groups and similar efficacy of the traditional and selfie videos. Cohen's d effect sizes ranged from 0.31 to 0.76 for changes in stigma from baseline to 30-day follow-up in study 1 and from 0.13 to 0.47 for changes from baseline to postintervention in study 2. CONCLUSIONS The RCTs demonstrated the efficacy of brief videos, both traditional and selfie, in reducing illness-related stigma among young adults and adolescents and in increasing treatment-seeking intention among adolescents. Future studies should explore the effects of brief videos presented by social media influencers on mental health stigma and treatment engagement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doron Amsalem
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York City (Amsalem, Jankowski, Pagdon, Markowitz, Neria, Dixon); Department of Biostatistics (Valeri) and Department of Epidemiology (Yang), Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York City; Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York City (Yang); Department of Sociology, Indiana University, Bloomington (Pescosolido); Child Study Center and Simulated Participant Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut (Martin)
| | - Samantha E Jankowski
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York City (Amsalem, Jankowski, Pagdon, Markowitz, Neria, Dixon); Department of Biostatistics (Valeri) and Department of Epidemiology (Yang), Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York City; Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York City (Yang); Department of Sociology, Indiana University, Bloomington (Pescosolido); Child Study Center and Simulated Participant Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut (Martin)
| | - Shannon Pagdon
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York City (Amsalem, Jankowski, Pagdon, Markowitz, Neria, Dixon); Department of Biostatistics (Valeri) and Department of Epidemiology (Yang), Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York City; Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York City (Yang); Department of Sociology, Indiana University, Bloomington (Pescosolido); Child Study Center and Simulated Participant Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut (Martin)
| | - Linda Valeri
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York City (Amsalem, Jankowski, Pagdon, Markowitz, Neria, Dixon); Department of Biostatistics (Valeri) and Department of Epidemiology (Yang), Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York City; Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York City (Yang); Department of Sociology, Indiana University, Bloomington (Pescosolido); Child Study Center and Simulated Participant Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut (Martin)
| | - Lawrence H Yang
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York City (Amsalem, Jankowski, Pagdon, Markowitz, Neria, Dixon); Department of Biostatistics (Valeri) and Department of Epidemiology (Yang), Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York City; Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York City (Yang); Department of Sociology, Indiana University, Bloomington (Pescosolido); Child Study Center and Simulated Participant Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut (Martin)
| | - John C Markowitz
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York City (Amsalem, Jankowski, Pagdon, Markowitz, Neria, Dixon); Department of Biostatistics (Valeri) and Department of Epidemiology (Yang), Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York City; Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York City (Yang); Department of Sociology, Indiana University, Bloomington (Pescosolido); Child Study Center and Simulated Participant Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut (Martin)
| | - Yuval Neria
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York City (Amsalem, Jankowski, Pagdon, Markowitz, Neria, Dixon); Department of Biostatistics (Valeri) and Department of Epidemiology (Yang), Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York City; Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York City (Yang); Department of Sociology, Indiana University, Bloomington (Pescosolido); Child Study Center and Simulated Participant Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut (Martin)
| | - Bernice A Pescosolido
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York City (Amsalem, Jankowski, Pagdon, Markowitz, Neria, Dixon); Department of Biostatistics (Valeri) and Department of Epidemiology (Yang), Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York City; Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York City (Yang); Department of Sociology, Indiana University, Bloomington (Pescosolido); Child Study Center and Simulated Participant Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut (Martin)
| | - Lisa B Dixon
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York City (Amsalem, Jankowski, Pagdon, Markowitz, Neria, Dixon); Department of Biostatistics (Valeri) and Department of Epidemiology (Yang), Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York City; Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York City (Yang); Department of Sociology, Indiana University, Bloomington (Pescosolido); Child Study Center and Simulated Participant Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut (Martin)
| | - Andrés Martin
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York City (Amsalem, Jankowski, Pagdon, Markowitz, Neria, Dixon); Department of Biostatistics (Valeri) and Department of Epidemiology (Yang), Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York City; Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York City (Yang); Department of Sociology, Indiana University, Bloomington (Pescosolido); Child Study Center and Simulated Participant Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut (Martin)
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Siuta RL, Martin RC, Dray KK, Liu SNC, Bergman ME. Who posted #MeToo, why, and what happened: A mixed methods examination. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1060163. [PMID: 36950104 PMCID: PMC10025476 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1060163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives The #MeToo social media campaign raised awareness about sexual harassment. The purpose of the current study was to address three unexplored research questions. First, what factors influenced whether a person posted #MeToo? Second, how did posting (or not) influence participants' wellbeing? Finally, what motivated participants' posting (or not) #MeToo? Method This mixed-methods study explores how #MeToo was experienced by full-time employees (N = 395) who could have posted #MeToo (i.e., experienced a sexual harassment event), whether or not they did so. Participants completed surveys in July of 2018 assessing social media use, sexual harassment history, relational variables such as relative power and social support, and job and life satisfaction. Participants also responded to open-ended survey questions about the context of and decisions about #MeToo posting. Results Quantitative results indicated that sexual harassment history was the most powerful predictor of #MeToo posting, while power and interpersonal contact also contributed. Qualitative analyses (N = 74) using a grounded theory approach indicated themes associated with decisions to disclose, including feeling a responsibility to post, need for support, and affective benefits. Decisions not to disclose were event-related negative affect, posting-related negative affect, timing of the event, fit with the #MeToo movement, privacy concerns, and fear of consequences. Conclusion This study contributes to the literature on sexual harassment disclosure by focusing on informal means of disclosure and drawing on comparisons to formal reporting and implications for workplaces. Online sexual harassment disclosure, in many ways, reflects the impediments to formal reporting procedures. Given the increased use of social media for purposes of disclosure, these findings suggests that organizations should recognize the legitimacy of sexual harassment reports made online and consider the possible failings of their formal reporting systems as reasons for online disclosure.
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Hey, let's take a selfie: insights of selfie defamiliarisation in the classroom. ONLINE INFORMATION REVIEW 2022. [DOI: 10.1108/oir-11-2021-0608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
PurposeSelfie is a popular self-expression platform to visually communicate and represent individual thoughts, beliefs, and creativity. However, not much has been investigated about selifie's pedagogical impact when used as an educational tool. Therefore, the authors seek to explore students' perceptions, emotions, and behaviour of using selfies for a classroom activity.Design/methodology/approachA triangulated qualitative approach using thematic, sentiment, and selfie visual analysis was used to investigate selfie perception, behaviour and creativity on 203 undergraduates. Sentiment analyses (SAs) were conducted using Azure Machine Learning and International Business Machines (IBM) Tone Analyzer (TA) to validate the thematic analysis outcomes, whilst the visual analysis reflected cues of behaviour and creativity portrayed.FindingsRespondents indicated positive experiences and reflected selfies as an engaging, effortless, and practical activity that improves classroom dynamics. Emotions such as joy with analytical and confident tones were observed in their responses, further validating these outcomes. Subsequently, the visual cue analysis indicated overall positive emotions reflecting openness towards the experience, yet also reflected gender-based clique tendency with modest use of popular selfie gestures such as the “peace sign” and “chin shelf”. Furthermore, respondents also preferred to mainly manipulate text colours, frames, and colour blocks as a form of creative output.Originality/valueThe study's findings contribute to the limited studies of using selfies for teaching and learning by offering insights using thematic analysis, SA and visual cue analysis to reflect perception, emotions, and behaviour.Peer reviewThe peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/OIR-11-2021-0608/
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Chen SS, Lam TP, Lam KF, Lo TL, Chao DVK, Mak KY, Lam EWW, Tang WS, Chan HY, Yip PSF. The Use of Close Friends on Instagram, Help-Seeking Willingness, and Suicidality Among Hong Kong Youth: Exploratory Sequential Mixed Methods Study. J Med Internet Res 2022; 24:e37695. [PMID: 36223182 PMCID: PMC9607886 DOI: 10.2196/37695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Social networking sites (SNSs) have gained popularity in recent years for help seeking and self-distress expression among adolescents. Although online suicidal expression is believed to have major benefits, various concerns have also been raised, particularly around privacy issues. Understanding youths’ help-seeking behavior on SNSs is critical for effective suicide prevention; however, most research neglects the impacts of the private SNS context. Objective This study aims to examine youths’ private SNS use via the new Instagram feature, Close Friends, and its association with both online and offline help-seeking willingness as well as youths’ suicidality. Methods This study employed an exploratory sequential mixed methods approach with a combination of explorative qualitative interviews and a systematic quantitative survey, targeting youth aged 15-19 years in Hong Kong. The motivations for utilizing Close Friends and concerns regarding online expression were addressed in the focus group and individual interviews (n=40). A cross-sectional survey (n=1676) was conducted subsequently with eligible secondary school students to examine the prevalence of Close Friends usage, their online and offline help-seeking willingness, and suicide-related experiences. Results A total of 3 primary motives for using Close Friends were identified during interviews, including (1) interaction and help seeking, (2) release of negative emotions, and (3) ventilation and self-expression. Most participants also highlighted the privacy concerns associated with public online communication and the importance of contacting close friends for emotional support. Survey results showed that use of Close Friends was quite prevalent among adolescents (1163/1646, 70.66%), with around 46% (754/1646, 45.81%) of respondents being frequent users. Differences by gender and school academic banding were also revealed. Regarding help-seeking intentions, youths were generally positive about seeking help from peers and friends offline (1010/1266, 79.78%) yet negative about seeking assistance from online friends or professionals with whom they had not yet developed a real-world connection (173/1266, 13.67%). Most notably, frequencies of Close Friends usage were differentially associated with online and offline help-seeking willingness and youths’ suicidality. Compared with nonusers, those who had ever used the feature were more likely to seek offline support (adjusted odds ratios [AORs] 1.82-2.36), whereas heavy use of Close Friends was associated with increased odds of online help-seeking willingness (AOR 1.76, 95% CI 1.06-2.93) and a higher risk of suicidality (AOR 1.53, 95% CI 1.01-2.31). Conclusions The popularity of Close Friends reflects the increasing need for private online expression among youth. This study demonstrates the importance of Close Friends for self-expression and private conversation and inadequacy of peer support for suicidal adolescents. Further research is needed to identify the causal relationship between Close Friends usage and help-seeking willingness to guide the advancement of suicide prevention strategies. Researchers and social media platforms may cooperate to co-design a risk monitoring system tailored to the private SNS context, assisting professionals in identifying youth at risk of suicide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sikky Shiqi Chen
- Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Tai Pong Lam
- Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Kwok Fai Lam
- Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Centre for Quantitative Medicine, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Tak Lam Lo
- Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Hong Kong, China
| | - David Vai Kiong Chao
- Department of Family Medicine and Primary Health Care, Hospital Authority Kowloon East Cluster, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ki Yan Mak
- Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Edmund Wing Wo Lam
- Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wai Sin Tang
- Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hoi Yan Chan
- Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Paul Siu Fai Yip
- Hong Kong Jockey Club Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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