Interventions to promote physical distancing behaviour during infectious disease pandemics or epidemics: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: Physical distancing, defined as keeping 1-2m apart when co-located, can prevent cases of droplet or aerosol transmitted infectious diseases such as SARS-CoV2. During the COVID-19 pandemic, distancing was a recommendation or a requirement in many countries. This systematic review aimed to determine which interventions and behavior change techniques (BCTs) are effective in promoting adherence to distancing and through which potential mechanisms of action (MOAs). METHODS: Six databases were searched. The review included studies that were (a) conducted on humans, (b) reported physical distancing interventions, (c) included any comparator (e.g., pre-intervention versus post-intervention; randomized controlled trial), and (d) reported actual distancing or predictors of distancing behavior. Risk of bias was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. BCTs and potential MoAs were identified in each intervention. RESULTS: Six articles (with seven studies and 19 comparisons) indicated that distancing interventions could successfully change MoAs and behavior. Successful BCTs (MoAs) included feedback on behavior (e.g., motivation); information about health consequences, salience of health consequences (e.g., beliefs about consequences), demonstration (e.g., beliefs about capabilities), and restructuring the physical environment (e.g., environmental context and resources). The most promising interventions were proximity buzzers, directional systems, and posters with loss-framed messages that demonstrated the behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: The evidence indicates several BCTs and potential MoAs that should be targeted in interventions and highlights gaps that should be the focus of future research.

Internet memes related to the COVID-19 pandemic as a potential coping mechanism for anxiety.

This study examined whether significantly anxious individuals differed from non-anxious individuals in their perceptual ratings of internet memes related to the Covid-19 pandemic, whilst considering the mediating role of emotion regulation. Eighty individuals presenting clinically significant anxiety symptoms (indicating ≥ 15 on the GAD-7) and 80 non-anxious controls (indicating ≤ 4) rated the emotional valance, humour, relatability, shareability, and offensiveness of 45 Covid-19 internet memes. A measure of emotion regulation difficulties was also completed. The perception of humour, relatability, and shareability were all greater amongst anxious individuals relative to non-anxious controls. These differences were not mediated by emotion regulation deficits. Internet memes related to the current Covid-19 pandemic may tentatively serve as coping mechanism for individuals experiencing severe symptoms of anxiety.

The role of the COVID-19 pandemic in altered psychological well-being, mental health and sleep: an online cross-sectional study.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic. Measures to reduce transmission of the virus have altered usual activities, routines, and livelihoods, and have had a significant impact on mental health. The current study aims to examine the potential alterations in psychological wellbeing, mental health, sleep and diurnal preference due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross sectional online questionnaire-based study with n = 200 participants (aged 18-62; 7.86.0% female, 93.0% white, 92.5% UK-based, 73.5% students). Data were collected between 15th April and 8 June 2020. Participants answered questions on lifestyle changes and their concerns and worries about COVID-19, and completed the SCI, PHQ9, GAD7, PWB18, UCLA3 and MEQ. Results showed self-isolation was linked to lower psychological well-being, and increased loneliness, anxiety and depression. Home-working was related to a shift in diurnal preference. Reduced work/income was related to decreased psychological well-being and sleep quality and increased anxiety, depression, loneliness and. Intensity of worried thoughts and concerns about COVID-19 were positively correlated with anxiety, depression and negatively with sleep quality. In conclusion, the social, occupational and economic disruption due to COVID19 has had a negative impact on psychological well-being. However, the transition to home-working may have been somewhat beneficial for some individuals in terms of sleep. These findings should be taken into account by policy makers during the transition to the 'new normal' post-pandemic.