Teens' satisfaction with virtual classes in Costa Rica

During the COVID-19 pandemic the Costa Rican educational system has adapted classes to a virtual model;furthermore, evidence has supported the existence of technological, digital, and educational gaps among students. The aim of the present study is to identify sociodemographic, psychosocial, technological, and digital characteristics associated with the adolescents' satisfaction with virtual classes during the pandemic. Using a cross-sectional de- sign, an online questionnaire was filled out by 14- to 18-year-old adolescents (n = 128, 63.3% girls, Mage = 16.2, SDage = 0.593) from public and private high schools. Results showed that only perceived support, self-efficacy, and socioeconomic status (SES) were significantly (positively) correlated with satisfaction with virtual classes. Also, it was found that a model that accounts for satisfaction in terms of perceived support and self-efficacy is better than one that includes SES as another explanatory variable. These results show some insights for making virtual learning a more satisfying experience for adolescents. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved) (Spanish) Durante la pandemia por COVID-19, el sistema educativo costarricense ha adaptado las clases a una modalidad virtual;ademas, hay evidencia de brechas tecnologicas, digitales y educativas entre la poblacion estudiantil. El objetivo del presente estudio fue identificar las caracteristicas sociodemograficas, psicosociales, tecnologicas y digitales asociadas al nivel de satisfaccion de adolescentes en Costa Rica con las clases virtuales durante la pandemia. Se empleo un diseno transversal y se aplico un cuestionario en linea a adolescentes de entre 14 y 18 anos (n = 128, 63.3% mujeres, M edad = 16.2, DEedad = 0.593) de colegios publicos y privados. Se encontro que solo el apoyo percibido, la autoeficacia hacia las clases virtuales y el nivel socioeconomico (NSE) se correlacionan significativamente (de forma positiva) con la satisfaccion con las clases virtuales. Ademas, se hallo que un modelo que explica la variabilidad en la satisfaccion a partir del apoyo percibido y la autoeficacia hacia las clases virtuales es mejor que uno que tambien incluya el NSE como variable predictora. Los resultados muestran indicios sobre la forma de hacer mas satisfactoria la experiencia de las personas adolescentes en el contexto de clases virtuales. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Perceived social support and compliance on stay-at-home order during COVID-19 emergency in Nepal: an evidence from web-based cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: After COVID-19 was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by WHO, several non-pharmaceutical interventions were adopted for containing the virus. Success to which largely depend upon citizens' compliance to these measures. There is growing body of evidence linking social support with health promoting behaviour. Hence, this research aimed to study the effects on compliance with stay-at-home order in relation to their perceived social support. METHODS: A web-based cross-sectional study was conducted among adult participants aged 18 years and above residing in Bagmati Province, Nepal. A convenient non-probability sampling method was adopted to select the required number of samples. The questionnaire was developed through an extensive review of literature, and consultations with the research advisor, subject experts, as well as peers and converted to online survey form using Google Forms. Perceived social support was measured using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) scale whereas compliance was assessed using a single screening question. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 20 involving both the descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS: Two fifth (40.2%) of the participants reported poor compliance with stay-at-home order which was found higher among participants who were not vaccinated against COVID-19 compared to those vaccinated (p value < 0.05). A significant difference was observed between sex and perceived support (p value < 0.05) with higher proportion (80.8%) of female participants reporting perceived support from family, friends, and significant others in comparison to male participants. CONCLUSION: Overall, the results of this study suggest that the perceived support from family is higher compared to others. Further evidence might be helpful to understand contextual factors on compliance with public health measures. Tailoring behaviour change messages as per the community needs would help the response in such emergencies. The findings from this study might be useful as one of the evidence base for formulating plans and policy during emergencies of similar nature.

Relationship satisfaction during COVID-19: The role of partners' perceived support and attachment.

Objective: The main goal of this study was to examine the interplay between individuals' attachment insecurity and their perceptions of their partners' COVID-related behaviors (supportive and negative behaviors) in predicting their relationship satisfaction. Background: Stress is a well-documented risk factor for relationship satisfaction. COVID-19 related stressors thus pose a challenge to maintaining relationship satisfaction. Although partners' supportive behaviors can play a central role in mitigating these stressors, enduring individual vulnerabilities, such as attachment insecurity, are likely to moderate the effectiveness of supportive (or negative) behaviors. Method: In this two-wave study, conducted at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in Israel, 239 participants in cohabiting Israeli couples reported their current relationship satisfaction and perceived partners' supportive and negative behaviors in response to COVID-related stress. Participants' pre-COVID reports of relationship satisfaction and attachment orientations were used to assess the extent to which partners' supportive/negative behaviors interacted with attachment orientations to predict relationship satisfaction maintenance during the first lockdown in Israel. Results: Higher levels of support and lower levels of negative behaviors were associated with greater relationship satisfaction maintenance. Anxiously attached individuals showed greater sensitivity to their partners' support, whereas avoidantly attached individuals manifested lower reactivity to their partners' negative behaviors. Conclusions: Perceived partners' supportive and negative behaviors can predict relationship satisfaction during stressful times. However, high attachment anxiety and low attachment avoidance may render individuals more sensitive to such behaviors. Implications: The results suggest that during times of stress, it is essential to target partners with attachment insecurity to strengthen their supportive skills.

Virtual Internships as Employer-Led Initiatives: Success Criteria and Reflections on the Diversification of Internships

Many employers have trialed virtual internships over the past two years. Employer-led virtual internships (e-internships) have a long history that predates the Covid-19 pandemic. Previous research has already demonstrated the importance of how employers design their internships, and how they subsequently support, train and mentor interns for internship success. Fifty-one virtual interns completed a survey in 2020 about their virtual internships experience with employers in various countries. The survey examined predictors of internship satisfaction and usefulness. Multiple regression showed that information accuracy, perceived support (e.g., resources, access to help) and usefulness (in terms of knowledge advancement and consolidation) all significantly and positively predicted internship satisfaction. Social influence and perceived support also increased the ratings of perceived usefulness among virtual interns. The relationship between perceived support given by employers and internship satisfaction was partially mediated by perceived usefulness of the internship. This highlights the importance of employer-led provisions and the extent to the design of internships influence virtual interns’ subsequent evaluations. The study concludes with a discussion of practical implications and reflections on the need to differentiate and study the various virtual internship types that have appeared to analyze which one will add value and which types might be less beneficial or even exploitative of talent wishing to gain more experience via virtual internships. © 2022, IFIP International Federation for Information Processing.

The Impact of Coping Strategies and Perceived Family Support on Depressive and Anxious Symptomatology During the Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19) Lockdown.

The coronavirus pandemic represents a severe global crisis, affecting physical, and psychological health. Lockdown rules imposed to counteract the rapid growth of COVID-19, mainly social restrictions, have represented a risk factor for developing depressive and anxious symptoms. The research aims are to explore the effect of coping strategies and perceived social support on depressive and anxious symptomatology during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ninety-six healthy people (46 males, mean age = 39.3; SD = 16.6) completed through on-line platform: Socio-demographic questionnaire, Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), 3 weeks after the imposition of lockdown restrictions. SCL-90-R Depression scores showed significant positive correlation with CISS Emotion (r = 0.85; p = 0.001) and Avoidant (r = 0.34; p = 0.018), a significant negative correlation with MSPSS Family support (r = -0.43; p = 0.003). SCL-90-R Anxiety scores showed a significant positive correlation with CISS Emotion (r = 0.72; p = 0.001) and Avoidant (r = 0.35; p = 0.016). No significant correlations between both CISS Emotion and Avoidant scales with social support emerged. Two Multiple Linear Regression analysis were performed using, respectively, SCL-90-R Depression and Anxiety scores as dependent variables, and the CISS and MSPSS scales, age, and gender as predictors. The first regression model (R 2 = 0.78; adjusted R 2 = 0.75) revealed CISS Emotion (ß = 0.83; p = 0.001) and MSPSS Family support (ß = -0.24; p = 0.004) had a predictive effect on SCL-90-R Depression scores. The second regression model (R 2 = 0.52; adjusted R 2 = 0.472) revealed that only CISS Emotion (ß = 0.71; p = 0.001) predicted the SCL-90-R Anxiety scores. In conclusion, during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, coping focus on emotions seemed to increase anxious and depressive symptoms, probably due to the uncontrollable nature of the stressful event and the high emotional response. Family support which reduces the sense of loneliness had an exclusive role in mitigating depressive symptoms. These results highlight the importance of promoting psychological strategies to improve emotional regulation skills, reducing isolation from family, to prevent mood symptomatology in healthy citizens during large-scale health crises.