Consumption coping to deal with pandemic stress: impact on subjective well-being and shifts in consumer behavior

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the role of consumption coping in managing collective tragedy stress and stress outcomes using the COVID-19 pandemic context. Design/methodology/approachA mixed-method study with a sample size of 931 was conducted to develop the questionnaire, followed by a quantitative study with 1,215 respondents to test the hypotheses. FindingsThe results of this study empirically validated the use of consumption coping and found it effective in managing collective tragedy stress and its outcomes (subjective well-being and continuance intention). Research limitations/implicationsThis study advances the literature on stress coping in a collective tragedy context, with a specific focus on consumption coping. Practical implicationsThe COVID-19 pandemic has affected all elements of the marketing mix. Understanding pandemic-induced stress and the role of consumption coping can help managers to proactively formulate strategic responses suitable for changing consumer habits. Social implicationsThe COVID-19 pandemic has affected all elements of the marketing mix. Understanding pandemic-induced stress and the role of consumption coping can help managers to proactively formulate strategic responses suitable for changing consumer habits. This should lead to better social outcomes. Originality/valueThis study developed a scale for pandemic-induced stress that integrates various well-established theories to identify the role of consumption coping in managing collective tragedy stress and the psychological mechanism behind the shift in consumer behavior after a collective tragedy.

Impact of COVID-19 on the Income of Entrepreneurs Who Borrowed from SHG

The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken the world. After liberalization in 1991, microfinance became a panacea for poor people without collateral and information asymmetry. The higher cost of microfinance and debt traps highlighted the need for the state to intervene in resource redistribution. In addition, national lockdowns and COVID-19 restrictions have made it difficult for emerging economies like India to achieve this sustainable development goal. The Reserve Bank of India introduced self-help group (SHG) bank linkage to ensure the financial inclusion of the poor. The difference-in-difference method examined how SHGs affect entrepreneur households' income. CMIE Consumer Pyramid dx data were used for analysis. The data establish that SHGs have increased the income of the households, and demographic factors such as education, income level and gender also impact the financial inclusion of the poor. © 2023 Management Centre for Human Values.

IMPACT OF COVID 19 ON BORROWINGS FROM SELF-HELP GROUPS AND OTHER SOURCES OF MICROFINANCE

COVID 19 is a pandemic that has emerged as a major crisis for the entire world. With the emergence of COVID 19, the borrowing pattern of individuals have changed drastically. During the second phase of COVID 19, the Government has imposed severe restrictions in terms of the Work from Home and Social distancing. This led to a decline in borrowing, particularly from the Self-help groups. This study seeks to establish the relationship between borrowings and Lockdown. Further, the study seeks to measure the gendered impact of COVID 19 on borrowings from different sources. The Difference in Difference method & Kernel based PSM (Propensity Score Matching) was used to identify the impact of COVID region (Rural Vs Urban) and the gendered impact of COVID 19 on the borrowings from different sources of microfinance. The results establish that during the COVID 19 period, the Rural regions witnessed a decline, whereas the borrowings from the bank and nonbanking finance companies increased drastically. © 2022 Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics. All rights reserved.

Comparison of effect of two different trigger regimens;single (hCG) versus dual (hCG + Leuprolide) on outcome of fresh IVF cycles: A randomized controlled trial

Study question Does adding gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) to hCG trigger increases the number of high-grade embryos in GnRH antagonist protocol in fresh non-donor IVF? Summary answer Final oocyte maturation triggered by dual trigger increases the number of MII oocytes thus transferring good-quality embryos and cryopreserving surplus embryos compared to hCG trigger. What is known already hCG has been conventionally used as a ‘faux’ LH surge to bring about final oocyte maturation due to structural similarity between the two. GnRH agonist, on the other hand, induces a more physiological gonadotropin surge for follicular maturation, but is associated with luteal phase deficiency. Recent studies have shown that combining GnRHa with hCG trigger improves oocyte maturation and embryo quality with the added benefit of a luteal phase support, thereby improving IVF outcomes in terms of both embryological and reproductive outcomes. Study design, size, duration A single-center, open labelled, randomized controlled trial including 100 normal responder patients between 21-38 years undergoing IVF using GnRH antagonist protocol between January 2020 to August 2021. The study excluded patients with the presence of other variables of adverse outcomes like diminished ovarian reserve (AFC < 5 or AMH < 1.2 ng/ml), endocrine disorders, thin endometrium (<6mm), previous history of uterine surgeries, and high responders. Participants/materials, setting, methods 100 patients undergoing fresh IVF cycle using GnRH antagonist protocol were randomized after informed consent to receive either dual trigger (Leuprolide acetate 1 mg + rhCG 250 mcg, n = 50) or single hCG trigger (rhCG 250 mcg, n = 50). Oocyte retrieval was done 35-37 hours after trigger followed by IVF/ICSI, as indicated. Oocyte and embryo grading was done using Istanbul consensus. Analysis was done by ITT. Outcomes were analyzed using Independent t-test and Chi-square test. Main results and the role of chance The baseline characteristics were comparable in both arms. the number of MII oocytes retrieved (7.82 versus 5.92, p = 0.003) and the number of day-3 grade-1 embryos (4.24 versus 1.8, p < 0.001) were higher in the dual trigger group, whereas fertilization rates between the two groups (91.82% versus 88.51%, p=NS) were comparable. Consequently, the number of embryos cryopreserved (2.68 versus 0.94, p < 0.001) were significantly higher in the dual trigger group. However, the implantation rate between the two groups (21% versus 19.6%, p = 0.770) was comparable. The serum LH levels 12 hours post trigger were measured in both the arms and as expected, high serum LH values were documented in the dual trigger group (46.23 mIU/ml vs 0.93 mIU/ml, p < 0.0001). Limitations, reasons for caution Due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic causing an intermittent pause in IVF services at our center, a smaller sample size of 100 patients could be enrolled in the study, and reproductive outcomes in terms of live births and cumulative live births could not be assessed Wider implications of the findings This study, though small, has contributed to some evidence of redesigning the dual trigger in all antagonist cycles, with the exception of high responders and PCOS patients. The addition of GnRHa to hCG trigger has led to the possibility of cryopreserving surplus embryos thereby increasing the cumulative live births. Trial registration number CTRI/2020/08/027030

Smart Artificial Intelligence Based Online Proctoring System

Since COVID 19, there have been significant advancements in the field of teaching and learning. Academic institutions are going digital to provide their students more resources. Due to technology, students now have more alternatives to study and improve skills at their own pace. In terms of assessments, there has been a shift toward online tests. The absence of a physical invigilator is perhaps the most significant impediment in online mode. Henceforth, online proctoring services are becoming more popular, and AI-powered proctoring solutions are becoming demanding. In this project, we describe a strategy for avoiding the physical presence of a proctor during the test by developing a multi-modal system. We captured video using a webcam along active window capture. The face of the test taker is identified and analyzed to forecast his emotions. To identify his head pose, his feature points are identified. Furthermore, aspects including a phone, a book, or the presence of another person are detected. This combination of models creates an intelligent rule-based inference system which is capable of determining if any malpractice took place during the examination. © 2022 IEEE.

Mindful digital program–based interventions and their role in pregnancy and fetal outcomes

The joint family system provides a support system especially for children, young parents, and parents-to-be and is a major factor in their survival, health, education, development, and protection. It has the major potential to provide stability and support when there are problems. The joint family system even in India is on the decline, and nuclear families are on the rise both in urban and rural areas. This has left the pregnant woman with little or no family support to fall back on, which can be a cause of stress and thus affect the outcome of pregnancy. Moreover, during the COVID, the medical support was also limited, which has added to the distress. Stress in the mother can result in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy with resultant low-birth-weight babies, preterm delivery, adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes for the child, and developmental delays in babies, and all these need to be avoided. iMumz pregnancy, the baby care and parenting digital program, has sought to address these issues by partnering closely with pregnant women, offering a wide range of assistance and activities for maternal well-being in the comfort of their own homes. This study captures the responses and pregnancy outcomes of the women who have used the iMumz pregnancy digital program during pregnancy. Materials and methods: This longitudinal study (panel study) was conducted on 512 primigravidas. The study group included 255 pregnant women who opted for a digital holistic health program: “Baby Care Program” (BCP), while the control group consisted of 257 pregnant women who received no such interventions. The BCP included mindfulness meditation, 3 hours of yoga and breathing practices every week, 2 hours of harmonizing music every week, 1 hour of baby bonding activities every week, and 1 hour of personalized diet and pregnancy education each week. The data were collected at 15 and 35 weeks of pregnancy and then from 1 month until 6 months of postdelivery. Results: The study showed a statistically significant improvement in sleep patterns and stress levels. It also showed a statistically significant decrease in the incidence of preterm delivery and low birth weight and a better maternal–fetal bonding or attachment (MFA) in the BCP study group compared to the control group. After initiation of BCP activities in the App, 88% of the patients reported a significant reduction in stress. The BCP study group also reported a higher sense of mastery in coping with postpartum blues. Eighty percent of the control group reported postpartum blues as compared to 19% of the BCP users. Moreover, 81.4% of the BCP study group reported more sense of control in managing their pregnancies, despite the stressful COVID environment. Conclusion: The BCP activities, such as meditation, yoga and breathing exercise, harmonizing music, baby bonding activities and personalized diet, and pregnancy education, have helped pregnant women to reduce their stress levels with improvement in sleep quality, increased a sense of control over diet and nutrition, and educated about MFA. The use of BCP has also positively correlated with better early childhood development and milestones. © Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers.

Impact of quarantine on psychological and psychosocial aspects in individual and health care sta

Even a thought for an outbreak of an infectious disease provokes unwarranted panic and emotional distress in population causing development of negative impacts on psychological and psychosocial parameters of an individual. So, in case of any real epidemic/pandemic outbreak the normal psychological and psychosocial parameters start getting affected gradually which rise in amplitude as time pass while the disease is in air. Immediately, starts the phase of stress and fear of either being a carrier or a healthy individual who will have to live a compromised life for a particular duration. Previous studies have shown quarantine period to grimly affect individuals along with their health care providers which can even go along for the coming years. These impacts if controlled by early execution of strategies through governmental, administrative and social bodies working resourcefully and effectively can reduce the distress before being amplified. The present paper outlines the negative impacts of quarantine on psychological and psychosocial domain in individuals put in quarantine along with health staff engaged in their treatment. In addition, the article also narrates and suggests recommendations after reviewing articles from reputed database published following the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus (MERS CoV) with added suggestions in reducing the effects during and after quarantine.