Disparagement humor permits unsafe COVID‐19 behaviors: A prejudiced norm perspective

Extending prejudiced norm theory, we hypothesized that memes diminishing the severity of the COVID‐19 pandemic promote tolerance of unsafe pandemic behaviors (as in contrary to contemporary advice of public health agencies, i.e., not wearing a protective mask) by establishing a perceived norm of tolerance for such behaviors. In Spring 2021, members of several Reddit communities (n = 106) reported their perceived threat of COVID‐19 and then completed a roleplay exercise in which they imagined they were with a group of friends in a church setting. In this context, participants viewed memes shared among their friends that belittled COVID‐19 (COVID‐19 disparagement condition) or memes unrelated to COVID‐19 (control condition). Then, participants responded to a vignette describing a woman confronting an usher about a couple who violated protocol by not wearing masks. The results supported our hypothesis. First, participants in the COVID‐19 disparagement condition perceived a greater norm of tolerance of the mask protocol violation among others in the immediate context compared to those in the control condition. Second, for participants who viewed COVID‐19 as a low threat, that local norm resulted in greater personal tolerance of the mask protocol violation. However, for participants who view COVID‐19 as a high threat, the local norm had no impact on their personal tolerance. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Social & Personality Psychology Compass is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Humor styles predict emotional and behavioral responses to COVID-19

A correlational study (n = 180 adults) in the United States tested the hypothesis that self-directed humor styles predict emotional responses to COVID-19, specifically stress and hopelessness, and in turn predict engagement in protective behaviors. Results from a sequential mediation analysis supported our hypotheses. First, to the extent that people have a self-enhancing humor style they perceived less stress and hopelessness associated with COVID-19 and as a result reported engaging in more protective behaviors. Second, people higher in self-defeating humor style showed the opposite pattern;they perceived more stress and hopelessness due to COVID-19 and thus reported engaging in less protective behaviors. Implications for theory and application are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Neurologic Emergencies during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic.

Although minor neurologic complications of coronavirus disease 2019 are common, life-threatening neurologic emergencies are rare. Acute ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, venous sinus thrombosis, seizures, and posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome have been described. Hospitals have seen significant changes in the volume of patients presenting with neurologic emergencies. We review what has thus far been published about the intersection of coronavirus disease 2019 and neurologic emergencies with particular attention to cerebrovascular disease and seizure. Considerations in managing the acute presentations of these conditions in the context of the pandemic can serve as a model for management of other neurologic emergencies.

Optimization of resources and modifications in acute ischemic stroke care in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has presented unprecedented challenges to healthcare organizations worldwide. A steadily rising number of patients requiring intensive care, a large proportion from racial and ethnic minorities, demands creative solutions to provide high-quality care while ensuring healthcare worker safety in the face of limited resources. Boston Medical Center has been particularly affected due to the underserved patient population we care for and the increased risk of ischemic stroke in patients with COVID-19 infection. METHODS: We present protocol modifications developed to manage patients with acute ischemic stroke in a safe and effective manner while prioritizing judicious use of personal protective equipment and intensive care unit resources. CONCLUSION: We feel this information will benefit other organizations facing similar obstacles in caring for the most vulnerable patient populations during this ongoing public health crisis.