Asian communities' well-being in Aotearoa during Covid-19: The mitigating role of sense of belonging in the relationship between racism and life satisfaction

INTRODUCTION: Anti-Asian racism was a feature of the social response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and its impact on the well-being of Asian communities warrants closer examination. The current study aimed to gauge whether the sense of belonging mitigated the adverse effects of racism on life satisfaction for self-identified Asian New Zealanders.METHODS: This analysis included 1341 responses to a cross-sectional online survey conducted in 2021. Descriptive analyses outline how components of a sense of belonging were distributed among participants and those who experienced racism during the Covid-19 pandemic. We used linear regression to examine the role of a sense of belonging as a potential pathway variable in the association between experiencing racism and life satisfaction.FINDINGS: In this survey, four out of 10 participants reported experiencing racism in the first 18 months of the pandemic. Participants' life satisfaction decreased slightly since January 2020 (p<0.001). Experiencing racism was associated with decreased life satisfaction. All the components of sense of belonging reduced the magnitude of this negative association between racism experience and life satisfaction, in particular, expressing one's own ethnic identity and belonging in Aotearoa.CONCLUSIONS: Given that anti-Asian racism is currently a feature of life and a significant stressor during the pandemic, this study provides empirical evidence of the protective role of a sense of belonging against anti-Asian racism. This study focused on Asian members in Aotearoa New Zealand, but its practical implications have the potential to support other minoritised ethnic communities who also experience racism during the pandemic and beyond.

Students' mental health and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. The role of psychological resilience and daily functioning

The Covid-19 pandemic poses a challenge to people's psychological health worldwide. Concerning college students' well-being, Covid-19 outbreak impacts their psychological and academic functioning. However, few studies have investigated the protective factors regarding students' well-being during the pandemic. Hence, the study aimed to assess how Covid-19 and the imposed social/physical protection measures are related to students' personal, academic, emotional, and social difficulties and to analyze protective factors, such as resilience and daily functioning to students' well-being. Our sample included 208 college students from a private University in Cyprus. Students completed the COVID-19 Functioning Scale, the Perceived Stress Scale, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, and the Connor Davidson Resilience Scale. Research findings highlighted that COVID-19 difficulties and challenges negatively impacted students' mental health and well-being. In addition, results revealed that students with a higher level of resilience and a healthier daily routine and functioning indicate lower levels of perceived stress and mental difficulties, such as anxiety and depression. Study findings highlighted that high resilience and functioning could protect students' well-being during the pandemic. Thus, activities that foster resilience should be included in broader strategies to support students' mental health and wellbeing. Universities should increase their psychological services offering, including counseling interventions, meditation practices, and experiential workshops. © 2023 Universidad de Sevilla. All rights reserved.

Handbook of Health and Well-Being: Challenges, Strategies and Future Trends

This evidence-based book focuses on contemporary issues related to human health and well-being. Drawing on the first-hand experiences of academics and researchers, it provides a holistic perspective on the importance of both mental and physical health for quality of life. It is divided into seven sections: changing perspectives on well-being;the mental health of students;the well-being of elderly people and marginalized populations;the role of family and teachers;psycho-social support;the right to health;and future perspectives. Covering current topics, such as the challenges posed by pandemics like COVID-19, the book discusses future strategies for addressing contemporary and emerging health issues and the overall well-being of the general public, an area not covered in any of the previous volumes. Furthermore, it explores the need for the involvement of multidisciplinary professionals in examining general health and well-being issues. Given its scope, it is an indispensable resource for a wide range of professionals and researchers from various fields, such as the social sciences, law, public health, medicine, education, and environmental studies. In addition, the book appeals to health policymakers, educational administrators, law enforcement agencies, as well as health workers, psychologists, and social workers dealing with clients in hospitals, educational institutions, and at the community level. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Taylor and Francis Pte Ltd. 2022.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on inequalities in lifestyle behaviours and mental health and wellbeing of elementary school children in northern Canada.

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected children's lifestyle behaviours and mental health and wellbeing, and concerns have been raised that COVID-19 has also increased health inequalities. No study to date has quantified the impact of COVID-19 on health inequalities among children. We compared pre-pandemic vs. post-lockdown inequalities in lifestyle behaviours and mental health and wellbeing among children living in rural and remote northern communities. Methods: We surveyed 473 grade 4-6 students (9-12 years of age) from 11 schools in rural and remote communities in northern Canada in 2018 (pre-pandemic), and 443 grade 4-6 students from the same schools in 2020 (post-lockdown). The surveys included questions on sedentary behaviours, physical activity, dietary intake, and mental health and wellbeing. We measured inequality in these behaviors using the Gini coefficient, a unitless measure ranging from 0 to 1 with a higher value indicating greater inequality. We used temporal changes (2020 vs. 2018) in Gini coefficients to assess the impact of COVID-19 on inequalities in lifestyle behaviours and mental health and wellbeing separately among girls and boys. Results: Inequalities in all examined lifestyle behaviours increased between 2018 and 2020. Inequalities in watching TV, playing video games, and using a cell phone increased among girls, while inequalities in playing video games, using computers and tablets, and consumption of sugar, salt, saturated fat and total fat increased among boys. Changes in inequalities in mental health and wellbeing were small and not statistically significant. Conclusion: The findings suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated inequalities in lifestyle behaviours among children living in rural and remote northern communities. If not addressed, these differences may translate into exacerbated inequalities in future health. The findings further suggest that school health programs can help mitigate the negative impact of the pandemic on lifestyle behaviours and mental health and wellbeing.

The U.S. Equity-First Vaccination Initiative: Impacts and Lessons Learned.

The one-year U.S. Equity-First Vaccination Initiative (EVI), launched in April 2021, aimed to reduce racial inequities in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination across five demonstration cities (Baltimore, Chicago, Houston, Newark, and Oakland) and over the longer term strengthen the United States' public health system to achieve more-equitable outcomes. This initiative comprised nearly 100 community-based organizations (CBOs), who led hyper-local work to increase vaccination access and confidence in communities of individuals who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. In this study, the second of two on the initiative, the authors examine the results of the EVI. They look at the initiative's activities, effects, and challenges, and provide recommendations for how to support and sustain this hyper-local community-led approach and strengthen the public health system in the United States.

Examining the Interaction between Perceived Cultural Tightness and Prevention Regulatory Focus on Life Satisfaction in Italy

This study aimed to investigate how some specific cultural and personal factors can influence people's life satisfaction. By embracing an interactionist perspective, we hypothesized that perceiving one's social environment as culturally tight (greater strength of social norms) can "match" with regulatory prevention focus (focus on safety following guidelines and rules) resulting in increased life satisfaction. This study relied on a cross-sectional design with 472 participants residing in Italy who filled out a questionnaire with self-report measures of perceived cultural tightness of their place of residence, and well-validated measurement scales of prevention focus and life satisfaction. A moderated multiple regression model revealed that regulatory prevention focus moderated the relationship between perceived cultural tightness and life satisfaction in such a way that the relationship was positive in high (vs. low) prevention focus. Therefore, results confirmed our match hypothesis that individuals' perception of tight social norms where they reside is associated with higher life satisfaction, particularly in those who are highly focused on prevention. These findings provide insight into identifying possible interactions of perceived culture and regulatory focus on subjective well-being within an Italian sample.

The benefits of nature-based systems in a and uncertain world

Multifunctional nature-based solutions (NBS) can help urban areas become more climate proof and adaptable and provide a range of societal goals. Alongside chronic impacts from climate change, the Covid-19 pandemic has illustrated the disruption that unexpected and acute shocks can bring to society. Measures such as NBS can help reduce the vulnerability of urban areas and increase resilience. Traditional infrastructure planning relies on strong business cases to demonstrate the economic value of a scheme. Numerous approaches assign economic value to the benefits from using NBS. However, this value is more than what can be accounted for by traditional finance methods, as there are many different perspectives on 'value'. Decision making processes for selection of NBS measures require stronger integration of these value perspectives. This paper considers these perspectives in the business models that are being used in the decision processes regarding use and selection of NBS. Examples are drawn from case studies in the EU Begin project and also from the Living with Water partnership in the UK, which illustrate how value perspectives can be included in business cases for NBS, also signposting the need to account for potential future changes using scenario planning.

The benefits of nature-based systems in a changing and uncertain world

Multifunctional nature-based solutions (NBS) can help urban areas become more climate proof and adaptable and provide a range of societal goals. Alongside chronic impacts from climate change, the Covid-19 pandemic has illustrated the disruption that unexpected and acute shocks can bring to society. Measures such as NBS can help reduce the vulnerability of urban areas and increase resilience. Traditional infrastructure planning relies on strong business cases to demonstrate the economic value of a scheme. Numerous approaches assign economic value to the benefits from using NBS. However, this value is more than what can be accounted for by traditional finance methods, as there are many different perspectives on 'value'. Decision making processes for selection of NBS measures require stronger integration of these value perspectives. This paper considers these perspectives in the business models that are being used in the decision processes regarding use and selection of NBS. Examples are drawn from case studies in the EU Begin project and also from the Living with Water partnership in the UK, which illustrate how value perspectives can be included in business cases for NBS, also signposting the need to account for potential future changes using scenario planning. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers: Engineering Sustainability is the property of Thomas Telford Ltd 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.)

COVID-19 Lockdown: Key Factors in Citizens' Stress.

Background: Confinement due to COVID-19 can have a short- and long-term impact on mental health (increased levels of stress and anxiety and emotional upheaval) and on people's quality of life. Knowing what factors are behind the stress can benefit the development of strategies and resources for future situations of a similar nature. The purpose of this study is to examine the incidence of a series of sociodemographic factors, confinement conditions, and work situation on the stress reported by confined citizens. Method: The sample is made up of 2008 citizens (19.9% men), the Perceived Stress Scale of 14 items (PSS-14) was used to assess the stress level of the population, as well as a sociodemographic questionnaire and different questions aimed at obtain information about the characteristics of the confinement and the employment situation. Data were collected using exponential snowball-type non-probability sampling. Results: The results suggest that sociodemographic factors such as age, gender, and income level could be good predictors of confinement stress. Post-confinement work expectancy along with pre-confinement working conditions can be key to protecting the well-being of confined populations. Limitations: This is a transversal study that forces us to be cautious with causal interpretations. The questionnaire was administered online, which means it excluded a good proportion of the population. Conclusion: The perception of stress being higher in women than men, with the lowest stress in older people and those with higher reported incomes. Stress levels increase as populations spend more weeks in confinement and the pre-confinement work situation seems key to protecting the well-being of the population. A lower stress is observed among stable couples without children confined in residential or suburban areas. Low income or economic instability is associated with a higher rate of stress and anxiety. The results can contribute to prioritizing actions and aid by contributing to the formation of teams and the design of tools for work in the current pandemic situation.

Community Health Representative Workforce: Integration across systems and teams to address the social determinants of indigenous health and wellbeing.

Tribally employed, Community Health Representatives (CHRs) serving Indigenous and American Indian and Alaskan Native (AIAN) peoples are culturally and linguistically embedded community leaders, with the unique ability to serve as the link and intermediary between community members and systems. Unique to the CHR workforce scope of practice is the expectation for high level integration within the medical and social service care team. This explicit role outlined in the scope of work sets an expectation for both CHR and care teams to deliver integrated patient, family, and systems level care coordination and case management. This paper aims to build from our previous manuscript published in Volume 1 of the special issue Community Health Workers Practice from Recruitment to Integration. In that Volume, we explored through a Community Case Study CHR Managers' perspectives on the challenges and opportunities for full CHR integration into health systems and teams serving AIAN. In this paper, we offer new information about the current CHR and CHR Managers' involvements and perceived level of integration within health care teams and the broader public health systems addressing the social and structural determinants of health. We approach this topic considering the COVID-19 pandemic and how CHRs and CHR Programs were included and not included in tribal pandemic response efforts.

N/MEMS Biosensors: An Introduction

In the twenty-first century, biosensors have gathered much wider attention than ever before, irrespective of the technology that promises to bring them forward. With the recent COVID-19 outbreak, the concern and efforts to restore global health and well-being are rising at an unprecedented rate. A requirement to develop precise, fast, point-of-care, reliable, easily disposable/reproducible and low-cost diagnostic tools has ascended. Biosensors form a primary element of hand-held medical kits, tools, products, and/or instruments. They have a very wide range of applications such as nearby environmental checks, detecting the onset of a disease, food quality, drug discovery, medicine dose control, and many more. This chapter explains how Nano/Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (N/MEMS) can be enabling technology toward a sustainable, scalable, ultra-miniaturized, easy-to-use, energy-efficient, and integrated bio/chemical sensing system. This study provides a deeper insight into the fundamentals, recent advances, and potential end applications of N/MEMS sensors and integrated systems to detect and measure the concentration of biological and/or chemical analytes. Transduction principle/s, materials, efficient designs, including readout technique, and sensor performance are explained. This is followed by a discussion on how N/MEMS biosensors continue to evolve. The challenges and possible opportunities are also discussed. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

The Pandemic Play Project-Documenting kids' culture during COVID-19

The Pandemic Play Project came about because of a moment in history shared by people around the globe, coupled with a recognition of the importance of play in children's lives. This project explored the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the play lives of Australian children. Because of coronavirus restrictions, it was carried out almost entirely online, during one of the longest and strictest lockdowns in the world. In 2020, some Australian children spent more time in lockdown than at school with their friends. This highlighted differences in play opportunities, based on where they lived. It also revealed the creative efforts that enabled children to stay playful at home during lockdown. In schoolyards around Australia, the coronavirus permeated children's play as they adapted their games, rhymes and songs to this new theme, and played according to new rules that were not of their own making, and therefore outside their control. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Resetting urban human-microbial relations in pandemic times

Microbes, particularly of the viral kind, are currently preoccupying human activity and concerns due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although for a long time there has been fear associated with ‘germs', notably viruses and bacteria and the diseases they cause, the pandemic has set these fears into overdrive. As serious as this ongoing event is, there are broader interests and important alternative narratives about the microbial world permeating current thinking, based on research that intersects with and includes biopolitical and relational research in geography. In an attempt at balancing the prevailingly negative discourses about microbes and the potential harms they can cause, and to encourage more geographers to contribute to understanding human-microbial relations, this paper draws together recent research across disciplines to discuss the prevalence and role of microbes in environments and in and on human bodies. Drawing on ideas of more-than-human care, the paper shows how geographers and other social scientists can and are already helping reset human-microbial relations, and where further work can productively be done. © 2023 The Authors. Geography Compass published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Online-Based Food Hubs for Community Health and Well-Being: Performance in Practice and Its Implications for Urban Design

Food hubs assist the economic development of small local farms growing produce sustainably and providing healthy nutrition by aggregating and distributing a diversified range of fresh local food directly to customers. Although food hubs remain niches due to the challenges of growth and implementation, the interest in local and organic food has recently surged, and the demand for online grocery shopping has dramatically increased, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. This research considers the potential of an online platform for food hubs and examines food practices that include creating and appropriating social networks of food hubs. The study also discusses the implications of the socio-spatial transformation for urban design. With a theoretical framework drawing from social innovation and practice theory, suggesting performance dynamics in practice, this study reviews the current trend of food hubs in the United Kingdom and investigates London-based Growing Communities and Sutton Community Farm, both of which offer community-led veg box schemes. The findings confirm that, as social innovations, community-led food hubs are evolving places for community health and well-being, among other online-based food hubs. This research proposes an evolutionary step for community-led food hubs for social connections. An online platform effectively mobilises resources to connect a diverse local community. More importantly, an online platform interconnected with physical facilities in farm sites and collection points can enhance spatial qualities and capacity and support food access, leading to the sustainable development of urban space. Methodologically, the long-term review of this research confirms the usefulness of the research framework, which revealed evolution in these cases. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

Purveyors of One Health: The ecological imperative driving the future of leisure services

The coronavirus pandemic, for all of its damage to human health and well-being, has brought to light the wisdom underlying the idea of One Health, whose advocates reason that health is a reciprocal relationship between our species and the environment that sustains us. What is good for people should also be good for the environment, and what is good for the environment should also be good for people. Their preferred future is one in the same. As the recent days, weeks, and months have also shown, leisure is not necessarily a cure for what ails us. Indeed, leisure pursuits may have contributed to the pandemic's spread. What, then, are we to make of leisure in the time of the coronavirus? We believe it is a fundamental lesson in ecology. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Cultivating resilience among Hong Kong's underprivileged ethnic minority groups in the face of a pandemic through a social justice lens

Purpose: In this study, the authors investigated ways to cultivate resilience through a social justice lens among ethnic minorities against COVID-19 in Hong Kong. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative (case study) methodology was adopted to interview 15 social service providers from diverse ethnic backgrounds serving disadvantaged ethnic minority groups (South and Southeast Asian groups from low-income households, foreign domestic workers and asylum seekers/refugees). Findings: Two major protective factors were identified, contributing to the development of resilience among diverse ethnic groups: (1) individual-based resilience (including being optimistic) and (2) socio-environmental factors (including ongoing support from strong family, peer and religious settings' support, consulates' support, on-going material and nonmaterial donations, support of young volunteers and importance of online connection and communication) using the integration of resilience and social justice frameworks. Originality/value: This study showed that the protective factors were found to dynamically interact with each other and the environment. The present study recommends additional culturally sensitive service and policy implications for preventing the long-term impact of mass crises among Hong Kong's marginalized minorities. © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited.

Impact on Mental Health Wellbeing, Lifestyle, and Financial Condition of Stock Traders during the Unprecedented Situations of Covid Lockdown and Ukraine-Russia War

During this pandemic and Post Pandemic Volatility of the world economics and the various war like situations in different parts of the world, the stock markets around the globe are on a roller coaster. The level of uncertainty, and emotional turmoil, has increased among Indian stock traders. This has led to an enormous level of increase of the stress that the traders are under, while continuing to trade. The main objective of this research study is to evaluate the impact of trading stress on the mental health, lifestyle, and financial condition of stock traders. This study includes respondents of required sample size. A purposive sampling technique was used to consider only active Indian stock traders for the study. A 5-point Likert scale questionnaire which was developed by Manda & Sana, 2021 was given to respondents using Google forms. The simple linear regression statistical method was used. The results indicate that general trading stress has an impact on the mental health, lifestyle and financial condition of stock traders.

Rural-urban interdependencies: Thinking through the implications of space, leisure, politics and health

The collective experience of social distancing will undoubtedly have implications for our social, cultural, and political practices. In this critical commentary, I consider the implications of these experiences by focusing on rural-urban relationships in Canada. Drawing from accounts published in online newspapers, I reflect on how social distancing highlights the interdependencies of urban and rural Canada and the role of space and leisure in shaping our broader social and political discourse. Reflecting on issues related to class, space, mobility, and freedom of choice, I suggest that rural-urban interdependencies is a productive framework for considering these relationships and how we might rethink them moving forward. In conclusion, I offer hopeful speculations on how social distancing may indeed bring us closer together. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

The SEED Wellness Model: A Workplace Approach to Address Wellbeing Needs of Healthcare Staff During Crisis and Beyond.

Workplace wellness has gained new meaning and significance in the healthcare workforce in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Healthcare workers across the world have carried the burden of responding to the public health crisis by having to work under new pressures and constantly changing environments, take on additional shifts, risk their own health and lives, and cope with the ongoing psychological and emotional strain. The purpose of this paper is to articulate a workplace wellness model applied across hospitals in the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, a regional area in New South Wales, Australia. The description of the development, components, and lessons learned from the SEED Wellness Model illustrates one possible solution about how to provide better care for the staff thus not only preventing staff burnout and turnover, but also creating lasting organizational benefits. The detailed model description can assist in developing a larger and more rigorous evidence-base to improve staff wellness in healthcare settings, both within Australia and internationally.

The New York State COVID-19 Healthcare Personnel Study: One-Year Follow-up of Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, and Physician Assistants, 2020-2021.

OBJECTIVES: The COVID-19 Healthcare Personnel Study is a longitudinal survey to assess the changing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the New York State health care workforce. We analyzed results from a follow-up survey of physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants on the availability of equipment and personnel, work conditions, physical and mental health of participants, and impact of the pandemic on commitment to their profession. METHODS: We conducted an online survey of all licensed New York State physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants in April 2020 (N = 2105) and a follow-up survey in February 2021 (N = 978). We analyzed changes in item responses from baseline to follow-up. We calculated survey-adjusted paired t tests and odds ratios (ORs) using survey-adjusted generalized linear models controlling for age, sex, region of practice, and hospital versus non-hospital-based practice. RESULTS: Twenty percent of respondents expressed continuing concern about personnel shortages at both baseline and follow-up. Respondents reported working approximately 5 more hours on average during a 2-week period at follow-up compared with baseline (78.1 vs 72.6 hours; P = .008). For 20.4% (95% CI, 17.2%-23.5%) of respondents, mental health issues had become persistent. More than one-third (35.6%; 95% CI, 31.9%-39.4%) of respondents reported that they thought about leaving their profession more often than once per month. The association between persistent mental and behavioral health issues and contemplating leaving one's profession was significant (OR = 2.7; 95% CI, 1.8-4.1; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Interventions such as decreasing the number of hours worked, ensuring health care professionals do not work directly with patients while ill, and addressing shortages of personal protective equipment can help address concerns of the health care workforce.