Moldovan Families with Children during Covid-19 Pandemic: Material Situation and Adaptive Strategies

Basing on a sociological survey in October-November 2020, changes in the material situation of families with children in Moldova and adaptive strategies were analyzed using a representative national sample, as well as official statistics. The results of the study showed that during the Covid-19 pandemic, about half of the country's families faced income reductions. Young families, families with three or more children, and labor migrant families forced to return from working abroad found themselves in a particularly difficult situation. An assessment of the families' financial situation largely depended on the changes in the respondents' work activity. Among those working remotely and who continued to work as usual, as a rule employed in the public sector, a small proportion of respondents suffered economic losses, while among those who lost their jobs or were on involuntary technical leave, mostly in the private sector, more than two-thirds faced serious financial difficulties. Among returning labor migrants, seven out of ten noted a decrease in the income of their families. In overcoming eventual material difficulties, the respondents pin little hopes on government assistance. The main mechanisms for the adaptation of the population to new conditions were the search for additional work, borrowing money from relatives and orientation towards working migration.

The role of government policies for Italian firms during the COVID-19 crisis.

This paper aims to respond to this research question: "How effective have government incentives been in preserving firm profitability and growth during the COVID-19 crisis?". We used a large, representative sample of Italian companies, which has produced a deeper study than the macro analyses provided by national statistics. Results shows that government policies alleviated the negative effects of the pandemic on troubled companies, but it was not enough to maintain the same financial health as firms that did not need this support. Small companies were the most adversely affected by the pandemic.

Perceived stress, family impact, and changes in physical and social daily life activities of children with chronic somatic conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has inevitably affected children and their families. This study examines the impact of the COVID-19 measures in children with chronic somatic conditions (CSC) and their parents and compares them with a Dutch general population sample. METHODS: We included a sample of children with CSC (0-18 years, n = 326) and compared them with children (8-18 years, n = 1,287) from the Dutch general population. Perceived stress, coping, social interaction with friends and family, physical activity, eating behavior, family support, parenting perception, and financial situation were assessed once with the self-reported and parent-reported COVID-19 child check questionnaire, between November 2020 and May 2021. Comparisons between the two samples were made by using t-tests and chi square tests. RESULTS: The proportion of children who reported being less physically active and having less social interaction with friends since the COVID-19 pandemic was higher in children with CSC than in children from the general population. Children with CSC and their parents experienced less stress than children and parents from the general population. Moreover, parents of children with CSC aged 0-7 years and parents of children aged 8-18 years from the general population experienced less support and more financial deterioration than parents of children with CSC aged 8-18 years. In the parents from the general population only, this deteriorated financial situation was associated with more stress, worse family interaction and parenting perception, and less received support. CONCLUSIONS: The impact of COVID-19 on children with CSC and their parents differed from those in the general population. Addressing the collateral damage of COVID-19 measures in children and their families may give direction to policy and potentially prevent lifelong impact.

Associations between new health conditions and healthcare service utilizations among older adults in the United Kingdom: effects of COVID-19 risks, worse financial situation, and lowered income.

BACKGROUND: Health services are critically important for older adults, particularly during the Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, COVID-19 risks, worse financial situation, and lowered income may seriously impact health services by feasibility and accessibility. Therefore, the aim of the present study was empirically to explore how health-seeking behaviors are influenced by new health conditions through COVID-19 risks, worse financial situation, and lowered income. METHODS: Data were from ELSA COVID-19 waves 1 and 2 which included a sample of 6952 and 6710 older adults in the United Kingdom, respectively. The frequency distribution analyses were conducted by Chi-square analysis by gender groups. Zero-inflated Poisson regressions were used to examine how worse financial situation and lowered income were associated with COVID-19 risks and new health conditions. Logistic regressions were employed to examine the associations of COVID-19 risks, worse financial situation, and lowered income with treatment cancellation and accessible care. Cross-sectional mediation models, cross-sectional moderation models, longitudinal mediation models, and longitudinal moderation models were conducted based on Hayes model 6, Hayes model 29, Montoya model 1, and Montoya model 2, respectively. RESULTS: Most of the sample was >65 years old, females, located in urban place, and involved in long-standing condition. Regression analysis showed that COVID-19 risks, worse financial situation, and lowered income were associated with treatment cancellation and accessible care. In the longitudinal mediations, effect coefficients of 'X' → (treatment cancellation in wave 1 (Tcn1)- treatment cancellation in wave 2 (Tcn2))(ß = -.0451, p < .0001, low limit confidence interval (LLCI) = -.0618, upper limit confidence interval (ULCI) = -.0284), 'X' → (COVID-19 risks in wave 1 (Csk1)- COVID-19 risks in wave 2 (Csk2)) (ß = .0592, p < .0001, LLCI = .0361, ULCI = .0824), and 'X' → (lowered income in wave 1 (CIn1)- lowered income in wave 2 (CIn2)) (ß = -.0351, p = .0001, LLCI = -.0523, ULCI = -.0179) were significant. Additionally, effect coefficients of 'X' → (accessible care in wave 1 (Acr1)- accessible care in wave 2 (Acr2)) (ß = .3687, p < .0001, LLCI = .3350, ULCI = .4025),'X' → (Csk1- Csk2) (ß = .0676, p = .0005, LLCI = .0294, ULCI = .1058), and 'X' → (worse financial situation in wave 1- worse financial situation in wave 2) (ß = -.0369, p = .0102, LLCI = -.0650, ULCI = -.0087) were significant. CONCLUSIONS: There were longitudinal mediating effects of COVID-19 risks, worse financial situation, and lowered income on the relationship between new health conditions and treatment cancellation and relationship between new health conditions and accessible care. These findings suggest that worse financial situation, lowered income, and COVID-19 risks exerted an influence on the relationship between new health conditions and treatment cancellation and relationship between new health conditions and accessible care among older adults. Findings suggest that longitudinal mediations may be important components of interventions aiming to meet service needs. Long-term health policy implications indicate the need for reducing COVID-19 risks, improving financial situation, and increasing income among the targeted population.

Worsened Financial Situation During the COVID-19 Pandemic Was Associated With Depressive Symptomatology Among University Students in Germany: Results of the COVID-19 International Student Well-Being Study.

Background: Previous findings suggest that university students are at an elevated risk to experience financial hardship and to suffer from depressive symptoms. This vulnerability may have substantially increased during the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic which might have affected students' socio-economic situation but possibly also their mental well-being. We examined whether the financial situation changed during the COVID-19 pandemic among German university students, and whether changes were associated with mental well-being. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional online survey in May and July 2020 at five German universities. Participants were asked, if they had sufficient financial resources to cover monthly expenses before and during the pandemic. The answer options were dichotomized into worsened and no change/better financial situation compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the CES-D 8 scale. For examining associations between sociodemographic, study-related, and financial factors and "worsened financial situation," we ran a generalized linear mixed model. To assess associations between depressive symptoms and worsened financial situation, we performed a linear mixed model. Results: We included 7,199 participants in the analyses (69% female, 30% male, 1% diverse, mean age: 24 years, standard deviation: 4.7). Overall, 25% of the participants reported to have a worsened financial situation at the time of the survey than in the time before COVID-19. Factors associated with a worsened financial situation were migration background, parents not being academics, not being able to borrow money, and payment of tuition fee by student and loan [odds ratios (OR) ranging from 1.20 to 2.35]. Factors associated with lower odds were: being single, living with others, studying a health-related field, being enrolled in a doctoral/Ph.D. or state exam program, and publicly funded tuition/tuition paid with a scholarship (OR ranging from 0.42 to 0.80). A worsened financial situation was associated with 1.02 points more on the CES-D 8 scale (95% CI: 0.80-1.24). Conclusion: Our results suggest that the pandemic put a number of students under financial strain with detrimental consequences for their mental well-being. Renewed attention must be paid to this vulnerable group to prevent the potentially damaging effects on their mental health.

[SELF-ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC SITUATION OF CITIZENS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC].

The article deals with topical issues of changing the socio-economic state of citizens under the influence of the situation with the spread of a new coronavirus infection that swept the entire world at the beginning of this year. Currently, society is asking whether people's attitudes to each other will change, how the economic situation in general and the financial situation of citizens will develop, in particular, in the conditions of active use of remote technologies, the development of Internet resources and the transition to digitalization, which are gaining popularity in conditions of self-isolation and restrictions on mass events. The article uses the results of a survey of the research project «Self-organization and mutual assistance in countering the spread of coronavirus infection¼, conducted by the center for research of civil society and the non-profit sector of the Higher School of Economics. The responses of respondents regarding the introduction of digitalization, increasing online opportunities, both in terms of work, training, and entertainment and communication, converge and confirm the prospects for development. However, while volunteers are optimistic about digitalization, representatives of the civilian population are more concerned about strengthening the digital control of the state over the lives of citizens.