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Kiuchi S, Takeuchi K, Kusama T, Cooray U, Tamada Y, Osaka K, Tabuchi T. Does online communication mitigate the association between a decrease in face-to-face communication and laughter during the COVID-19 pandemic? A cross-sectional study from JACSIS study. Prev Med Rep 2023; 36:102432. [PMID: 37781106 PMCID: PMC10534252 DOI: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2023.102432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Laughter has a protective effect on human health. The spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has changed opportunities for face-to-face communication and might decrease opportunities for laughter. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate whether the decrease in face-to-face communication during the COVID-19 pandemic is associated with a decrease in laughter. Additionally, we investigated whether an increase in online communication mitigates this association. Data from the "Japan COVID-19 and Society Internet Survey (JACSIS)," conducted between August and September 2020, were used. Participants aged 15-79 years were included in this study. The outcome was a decrease in laughter before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The explanatory variables were decreased face-to-face communication with friends and increased online communication (text message, telephone, and video contact). Causal mediation analysis was used to calculate prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) of the controlled direct effects of increased online communication. Furthermore, the proportions eliminated (PEs) by an increase in online communication were calculated. Among the 25,482 participants, 40.4 % had decreased face-to-face communication and 21.4 % had a decreased frequency of laughter. After adjusting for confounders, a decrease in face-to-face communication was significantly associated with a decrease in laughter (PR = 1.62, 95 %CI = 1.55-1.70). PEs for decrease in laughter were 27.2 % (95 %CI = -2.0 to 56.4) for text-based communication, 36.1 % (95 %CI = 12.3-59.8) for telephone-based communication, and 28.6 % (95 %CI = 0.6-56.6) for video-based communication. Although a decrease in face-to-face communication was associated with a decrease in laughter during the COVID-19 pandemic, online communication, particularly telephone-based communication, mitigated this association.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sakura Kiuchi
- Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Tohoku University, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Japan
- Department of International and Community Oral Health, Tohoku University Graduate School of Dentistry, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Japan
| | - Kenji Takeuchi
- Department of International and Community Oral Health, Tohoku University Graduate School of Dentistry, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Japan
- Division of Statistics and Data Science, Liaison Center for Innovative Dentistry, Tohoku University Graduate School of Dentistry, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Japan
| | - Taro Kusama
- Department of International and Community Oral Health, Tohoku University Graduate School of Dentistry, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Japan
- Division of Statistics and Data Science, Liaison Center for Innovative Dentistry, Tohoku University Graduate School of Dentistry, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Japan
| | - Upul Cooray
- Department of International and Community Oral Health, Tohoku University Graduate School of Dentistry, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yudai Tamada
- Department of International and Community Oral Health, Tohoku University Graduate School of Dentistry, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Japan
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Ken Osaka
- Department of International and Community Oral Health, Tohoku University Graduate School of Dentistry, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Japan
| | - Takahiro Tabuchi
- Cancer Control Center, Osaka International Cancer Institute, Osaka, Japan
- Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research, Tokyo, Japan
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Pérez-Pérez L, Cárdaba-García I, Madrigal-Fernández MA, Montero-Cuadrado F, Sobas EM, Soto-Cámara R. COVID-19 Pandemic Control Measures and Their Impact on University Students and Family Members in a Central Region of Spain. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:4470. [PMID: 36901480 PMCID: PMC10001487 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20054470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The first waves of the COVID-19 pandemic were times of great change in the lives of university students and their families in Spain. The aim of this study was to explore the psychosocial aspects and preventive measures carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic by students and family members of the nursing degree students of the University of Valladolid (Spain). The number of people surveyed was 877, by means of an ad hoc questionnaire. Relationships between variables were established by means of the Chi-square test and Student's t-test. In addition, multivariate logistic regression was generated. The significance level used was 0.05. Students and family members maintained preventive measures= such as hand washing, correct use of masks =in closed places, avoiding crowds and maintaining social distance, but at low rates (close to 20% in all cases). Regarding psychosocial aspects, 41.07% of the participants suffered from anxiety and loneliness, while 5.2% needed to take drugs to reduce anxiety or sleep and 66.07% were dependent on technology. Suicidal behavior is related to stress, anxiety, loneliness, poor family relationships, psychotropic drug use and technology abuse. The pandemic has caused life changes in university students and their families at the psychosocial level, generating high figures of suicidal ideation regardless of age. Preventive measures adopted to control the pandemic have not been followed for the most part.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucía Pérez-Pérez
- Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, University of Valladolid, 47005 Valladolid, Spain
- Health Service of Castilla y León (Sacyl), 47007 Valladolid, Spain
| | | | | | - Federico Montero-Cuadrado
- Health Service of Castilla y León (Sacyl), 47007 Valladolid, Spain
- East-Valladolid Primary Care Management (Sacyl), 47010 Valladolid, Spain
- Unit for Active Coping Strategies for Pain in Primary Care, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
| | - E. M. Sobas
- Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, University of Valladolid, 47005 Valladolid, Spain
- Institute of Applied Ophthalmobiology (IOBA), University of Valladolid, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
| | - Raúl Soto-Cámara
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Burgos, 09001 Burgos, Spain
- Emergency Medical Service of Castilla y León (Sacyl), 47007 Valladolid, Spain
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Zeng Y, Gong W, Lai AYK, Sit SMM, Wang MP, Ho SY, Lam TH. Factors associated with willingness and preferences to attend family services in Hong Kong: A population-based survey. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1057164. [PMID: 36844844 PMCID: PMC9947657 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1057164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Family services are open to the community at large as well as vulnerable groups; however, little is known about the willingness of communities to attend such services. We investigated the willingness and preferences to attend family services and their associated factors (including sociodemographic characteristics, family wellbeing, and family communication quality) in Hong Kong. Methods A population-based survey was conducted on residents aged over 18 years from February to March 2021. Data included sociodemographic characteristics (sex, age, education, housing type, monthly household income, and the number of cohabitants), willingness to attend family services to promote family relationships (yes/no), family service preferences (healthy living, emotion management, family communication promotion, stress management, parent-child activities, family relationship fostering, family life education, and social network building; each yes/no), family wellbeing, and family communication quality (both scores 0-10). Family wellbeing was assessed using the average scores of perceived family harmony, happiness and health (each score 0-10). Higher scores indicate better family wellbeing or family communication quality. Prevalence estimates were weighted by sex, age and educational level of the general population. Adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) for the willingness and preferences to attend family services were calculated in relation to sociodemographic characteristics, family wellbeing, and family communication quality. Results Overall, 22.1% (1,355/6,134) and 51.6% (996/1,930) of respondents were willing to attend family services to promote relationships or when facing problems, respectively. Older age (aPR = 1.37-2.30, P < 0.001-0.034) and having four or more cohabitants (aPR = 1.44-1.53, P = 0.002-0.003) were associated with increased aPR of willingness for both situations. Lower family wellbeing and communication quality were associated with lower aPR for such willingness (aPR = 0.43-0.86, P = 0.018-<0.001). Lower family wellbeing and communication quality were associated with preferences for emotion and stress management, family communication promotion, and social network building (aPR = 1.23-1.63, P = 0.017-<0.001). Conclusions Lower levels of family wellbeing and communication quality were associated with unwillingness to attend family services and preferences for emotion and stress management, family communication promotion, and social network building.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingpei Zeng
- School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Weijie Gong
- Department of General Practice, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Agnes Yuen Kwan Lai
- School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Shirley Man Man Sit
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Man Ping Wang
- School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Sai Yin Ho
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Tai Hing Lam
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
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Jia C, Long Y, Luo X, Li X, Zuo W, Wu Y. Inverted U-shaped relationship between education and family health: The urban-rural gap in Chinese dual society. Front Public Health 2023; 10:1071245. [PMID: 36711367 PMCID: PMC9874332 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1071245] [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: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The Healthy China Initiative emphasizes family health. Education is an upstream determinant of health, which can both achieve upward mobility and cause class solidification. Methods Using nationwide large-scale data collected in 2021, the present study explored the relationship between education and family health in the urban-rural dual society via Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition and propensity score matching. Results Our data revealed disparities in family health, educational attainment, household income, healthcare coverage, and job type between urban and rural China. An inverted U-shaped relationship existed between increasing years of education and family health. The upper limit was 17.1 years for urban residents and 13.7 years for rural residents, with limited health benefits from higher education obtained by rural residents. Mediated by work-family conflict, highly-educated people received gradually diminishing health returns. The results of the Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition showed that 25.8% of the urban-rural gap in family health could be explained by the disparity in education. Urban residents could translate cultural capital and economic capital into health capital to a greater extent. After propensity score matching, a robust, inverted U-shaped relationship was found between education and family health. The inverted U-shaped relationship was found to replace family health with self-rated health and quality of life. Discussion Family-centered public health and education programs, policies, and goals should be developed to break urban-rural dual structure barriers and advance social equity in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changli Jia
- Taikang Medical School (School of Basic Medical Sciences), Wuhan University, Wuhan, China,School of Public Health, Global Health Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yanwen Long
- Institute of Education Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaoxia Luo
- School of Public Health, Global Health Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiao Li
- School of Public Health, Global Health Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Wenjing Zuo
- Taikang Medical School (School of Basic Medical Sciences), Wuhan University, Wuhan, China,*Correspondence: Wenjing Zuo ✉
| | - Yibo Wu
- School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China,Yibo Wu ✉
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Li C, Ning G, Xia Y, Guo K, Liu Q. Does the Internet Bring People Closer Together or Further Apart? The Impact of Internet Usage on Interpersonal Communications. Behav Sci (Basel) 2022; 12:bs12110425. [PMID: 36354402 PMCID: PMC9687672 DOI: 10.3390/bs12110425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The complementarity interference (CI) model suggests that the Internet may either inhibit or facilitate interpersonal communications. This paper empirically examines the impact of Internet usage on interpersonal interactions, using a micro dataset from China to answer whether the Internet brings people closer together or further apart. The empirical results demonstrate, first, that Internet usage significantly increases both the time and frequency of people’s communications with their family and friends, rather than causing them to feel more disconnected and isolated. Holding other factors constant, for each one-standard-deviation increase in Internet usage, weekly communications with family members increases by an average of 102.150 min, while there is an average increase of 54.838 min in interactions with friends. These findings as to its positive effects are robust when using other regression models and interpersonal contact measures, as well as the instrumental variable method. Second, Internet usage also contributes to decreased loneliness; it exerts this effect primarily by improving people’s interactions with their family members. However, communications with friends do not significantly mediate such impacts. Third, the positive role of Internet usage on communications is more prominent for people with more frequent online socialization and self-presentation, better online skills, younger age, higher educational level, and who are living in urban areas. In addition, the beneficial effects of Internet usage are larger for communications with family members in the case of migrants. Therefore, in the context of the rapid development of information technology, the network infrastructure should be improved to make better use of the Internet to facilitate interpersonal communications and promote people’s wellness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Li
- Business School, Shandong University, Weihai 264209, China
- Correspondence: (C.L.); (G.N.)
| | - Guangjie Ning
- Business School, Shandong University, Weihai 264209, China
- Correspondence: (C.L.); (G.N.)
| | - Yuxin Xia
- HSBC Business School, Peking University, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Kaiyi Guo
- Business School, Shandong University, Weihai 264209, China
| | - Qianqian Liu
- Business School, Shandong University, Weihai 264209, China
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Gong WJ, Sit SMM, Lai AYK, Yu NX, Wang MP, Ho SY, Lam TH. Adversity coping capability and its associations with mental health and family wellbeing amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong. BMC Psychiatry 2022; 22:553. [PMID: 35962361 PMCID: PMC9373882 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-022-04198-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adversity coping capability (ACC) is important amid the COVID-19 pandemic. We examined the associations of ACC as measured by our one-item ACC scale (ACC-1) with mental health, family well-being and validity of ACC-1 in Hong Kong. METHODS A cross-sectional survey was conducted on Hong Kong Chinese adults aged ≥ 18 years by landline, mobile phone, and online survey from February to March 2021, when the fourth wave of COVID-19 was under control. ACC-1 consisted of the question: "How do you rate your capability to cope with adversities?" with higher scores (0-10) indicating stronger ACC. The associations of ACC with socioeconomic characteristics, resilience, mental health, and family wellbeing were examined by linear regression coefficients (βs). Data were weighted by sex, age, and education of the general population. RESULTS Of 7441 respondents, after weighing, 52.2% were female and 79.1% were aged 18 to 64 years. ACC-1 showed good construct validity, with higher ACC being associated with higher levels of resilience (adjusted β = 0.29), personal happiness (0.55), family happiness (0.42), family wellbeing (0.41), and family communication quality (0.41), and lower levels of depressive symptoms (-0.30), anxiety (-0.30), loneliness (-0.15); incremental validity with additional contributions of ACC to mental health and family wellbeing; and known-group validity with older age and favorable socioeconomic characteristics showing higher ACC (all P < 0.02). Females (mean ± standard deviation: 6.04 ± 1.82 vs 6.15 ± 1.96 [male]) and unemployed respondents (5.30 ± 1.99 vs 6.11 ± 2.03 [in paid employment]) had lower ACC (all P ≤ 0.02). CONCLUSIONS We have first shown that stronger ACC was associated with better mental health and family wellbeing, and the results support ACC-1 as a simple and valid measure of ACC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Jie Gong
- grid.263488.30000 0001 0472 9649Department of General Practice, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China ,grid.194645.b0000000121742757School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Shirley Man Man Sit
- grid.194645.b0000000121742757School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China ,grid.194645.b0000000121742757School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Agnes Yuen Kwan Lai
- grid.194645.b0000000121742757School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Nancy Xiaonan Yu
- grid.35030.350000 0004 1792 6846Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Man Ping Wang
- School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Sai Yin Ho
- grid.194645.b0000000121742757School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Tai Hing Lam
- grid.194645.b0000000121742757School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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