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Ma MZ, Ye S. Country's value priorities in health crisis: How dominant societal motivations shape COVID-19 severity. SSM Popul Health 2023; 24:101493. [PMID: 37664868 PMCID: PMC10474233 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2023.101493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
This paper presents two comprehensive studies examining how Schwartz's human values dimensions at the country level predict COVID-19 pandemic severity. Study 1 aggregated survey data across 89 countries from the European Social Survey and World Values Survey to assess societal-level conservation versus openness to change (CON-OTC) and self-enhancement versus self-transcendence (SE-ST) value-continuums. Study 2 developed an innovative archival measurement approach using 10 indicators to estimate these value dimensions for over 180 countries. Both studies employed multilevel modeling to test the relationships between country-level values and COVID-19 severity, measured through epidemiological indicators of transmission speed, case fatality rate, infection prevalence and mortality burden. Results revealed that the CON-OTC and SE-ST value-continuums showed consistent, significant negative associations with transmission speed and infection prevalence before adjusting for modernization, latitude, historical pathogen prevalence and government stringency across both studies. However, after accounting for these socioecological and policy covariates, the CON-OTC value-continuum positively predicted case fatality rate in both studies, implying conservation values could increase COVID-19 lethality. In contrast, across both studies, the SE-ST value-continuum negatively predicted case fatality rate after adjusting for the covariates, suggesting countries prioritizing self-enhancement values exhibited relatively lower pandemic severity and lethality when accounting for developmental, ecological, and policy factors. Accordingly, the studies advance theoretical understanding of how country's value priorities shape COVID-19 impact. Methodologically, these studies contribute through multilevel techniques that account for spatial dependencies, as well as an innovative ecological measurement. Overall, this research demonstrates the value of applying Schwartz's framework at a societal level to predict global health crises and pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mac Zewei Ma
- Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, PR China
| | - Shengquan Ye
- Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, PR China
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Rifai A, Wu WC, Tang YW, Lu MY, Chiu PJ, Strong C, Lin CY, Chen PL, Ko WC, Ko NY. Psychological Distress and Physical Adverse Events of COVID-19 Vaccination among Healthcare Workers in Taiwan. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:vaccines11010129. [PMID: 36679974 PMCID: PMC9866986 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11010129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2022] [Revised: 12/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic places high pressure on everyone, including healthcare workers (HCWs), thus causing them to experience psychological distress. HCWs have priority in receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. However, few studies have identified adverse events (AEs) and psychological distress in the HCWs group. Therefore, we investigated the association between psychological distress and AEs and the determinants of protective behaviors in Taiwanese HCWs. A longitudinal measurement was conducted among HCWs at National Cheng Kung University Hospital (NCKUH), Tainan, Taiwan (n = 483, mean age = 37.55 years). All HCWs completed an online questionnaire on psychological distress, COVID-19 vaccination AEs, and protective behaviors. We used generalized estimating equations (GEE) to analyze the correlation between psychological distress and AEs, and used multivariable logistic regressions to explore the predictors of protective behaviors. Depression and distress and anger were significantly associated with various physical AEs (p = 0.045 to p < 0.001). Suicidal thoughts became a significant independent variable of systemic AEs after COVID-19 vaccination (p = 0.014 to p < 0.001). People of older ages or females engaged more in washing their hands, wearing masks, and reducing their presence in crowded places. Suicidal thoughts were related to the occurrence of systemic AEs among HCWs. Doctors performed better at preventive behaviors compared to nurses and other HCWs. HCWs who experienced anxiety and nervousness tended to avoid crowds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Rifai
- Department of Nursing, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
- International Doctoral Program in Nursing, Department of Nursing, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
- Faculty of Nursing, University of Jember, Jember 68121, Indonesia
| | - Wan-Ching Wu
- Center for Infection Control, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan 701, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Wen Tang
- Center for Infection Control, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan 701, Taiwan
| | - Mei-Yun Lu
- Center for Infection Control, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan 701, Taiwan
- Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Jen Chiu
- Center for Infection Control, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan 701, Taiwan
| | - Carol Strong
- Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Ying Lin
- Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
- Institute of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
- Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
- Biostatistics Consulting Center, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
- Correspondence: (C.-Y.L.); (N.-Y.K.); Tel.: +886-6-2353535-5106 (C.-Y.L.); +886-6-2353535-5838 (N.-Y.K.); Fax: +886-6-2367981 (C.-Y.L.); +886-6-2377550 (N.-Y.K.)
| | - Po-Lin Chen
- Center for Infection Control, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan 701, Taiwan
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Chien Ko
- Center for Infection Control, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan 701, Taiwan
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
| | - Nai-Ying Ko
- Department of Nursing, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
- Center for Infection Control, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan 701, Taiwan
- Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
- Correspondence: (C.-Y.L.); (N.-Y.K.); Tel.: +886-6-2353535-5106 (C.-Y.L.); +886-6-2353535-5838 (N.-Y.K.); Fax: +886-6-2367981 (C.-Y.L.); +886-6-2377550 (N.-Y.K.)
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