Does workplace ostracism negatively affect family life during a pandemic?

PurposeThe study aims to investigate the impact of workplace ostracism (WO) and fear of the COVID-19 pandemic on the family life of restaurant employees. This research is based on the conservation of resources (COR) theory and work-family interface model to understand the theoretical underpinnings of mistreatment in the food sector during the COVID-19 pandemic.Design/methodology/approachThe study utilized a survey with a structured questionnaire to collect time-lagged data from 238 restaurant employees in the central region of Punjab province in Pakistan. The collected data were analyzed using the SPSS tool with modern-day techniques like bootstrapping, process macro and SmartPLS.FindingsThe study reveals that perceived stress levels of the employees increase due to ostracism, leading to work-family conflict. Furthermore, the study found that employees who fear COVID-19 are less stressed by ostracism.Originality/valueThe study's significant contribution lies in demonstrating that the impact of ostracism in the workplace is quite different from what was expected. The results have shown that ostracism can reduce the perceived stress levels of employees, leading to a decrease in work-family conflict, especially in the presence of fear of COVID-19.

Perception of Women Regarding Breast Feeding during Covid 19 Pandemic

Objective: To assess the perception of women regarding breast feeding and lactation during Covid 19 pandemic. Study Design: Cross-sectional descriptive study. Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the obstetrics and gynecology Department, neonatal follow-up clinics and vaccination center at Darul Sehat Hospital Karachi from September 2021 to November 2021. Material(s) and Method(s): A questionnaire was introduced to women after taking informed consent. Included females were either lactating currently or practicing since last six month and those with breast feeding problems were excluded from study. Questionnaire contain three portions of which first part inquired about demographic features, second part contained questions about perception and third part is about practices of breast feeding during Covid -19 pandemic. Data was analyzed using IBM-SPSS version 23.0. Means with standard deviation were given for quantitative variables and chi square test is used to assess association between perception of breast feeding and different study variables. Result(s): The study included 206 participants. Mean age was 28.8 years (SD +/-5.0). 66.2% suggested breastfeeding should continue even in covid prevalent communities, 33.8% claimed that covid virus can be transmitted via breastfeeding, 57.6% said wearing a mask should be mandatory while breastfeeding and 84.3% suggested washing hands prior to breastfeeding helps prevent transmission of virus from mother to baby. 66.2% thought breastfeeding protects the child against covid disease. Conclusion(s): Covid 19 pandemic has affected breastfeeding practices. Majority women suggested breastfeeding should continue even in communities where covid is pandemic, and that breastfeeding protects the child against covid disease. Copyright © 2022 Medical Forum Monthly. All rights reserved.

The ramification of COVID-19: How work satisfaction mediates the perceived work stress with turnover intention and gender differences among knowledge workers of developing country

Purpose. In organizations, employee's work stress is seen as the main problem behind dissatisfaction which ultimately leads towards turnover intention. This research is specific to knowledge workers of private schools registered in the Federal Capital Territory of Pakistan during COVID-19 and empirically examined the influence of perceived work stress on turnover intention and work satisfaction, including investigating the mediation effect of work satisfaction on the association of perceived work stress with turnover intention. Finally, the conditional direct and indirect effect of males and females is also measured. Design. Data were gathered from private school's teachers of the Federal Capital Territory of Pakistan in the form of a survey and the final sample of 269 teachers was used to test the hypotheses through structural equational modeling. Findings. Perceived work stress positively influenced the turnover intention of knowledge workers but work satisfaction reduces the greater impact of stress on turnover intention and seems to he partially mediated the association of perceived work stress and turnover intention. Finally, gender differences exposed that work satisfaction decreases the greater effect of stress on turnover intention among females strongly than males although the direct effect was already weaker among male teachers than females. Practical implications. This research will assist decision-makers to better understand the consequences of perceived work stress and work satisfaction. Moreover, management can formulate strategies for the retention of employees to minimize the turnover of knowledge workers that are contributing to the welfare of society. Organizations need to emphasize the work satisfaction of employees on priority in any circumstances to utilize their full efforts for better performance as the turnover intention is the main cause of perceived work stress. Work satisfaction minimizes the influence of perceived work stress on turnover intention among knowledge workers especially in the current scenario where almost every organization is affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and official work has been transmitted from physical to online medium which is generating uncertainties globally. Value of results. This research paper thrusts the knowledge about the antecedents of individual's work satisfaction, stress and intention to quit in the field of education.

COVID-19: ANXIETY, REJECTION SENSITIVITY, FEAR OF DEATH AND RESILIENT COPING AMONG GENERATION X AND Y

Outbreak of COVID-19 has adversely affected the world with harmful effects on the mental health of people of all ages. In the present cross-sectional research, we were interested to explore anxiety, rejection sensitivity, fear of death and resilient coping as a result of COVID-19 among participants of generation X (1965-1980) and Y (1981-2000). A sample of 235 covid-negative (GX=104, GY=131;M=97, W=138) was taken using convenient sampling. Anxiety self-rating scale, rejection sensitivity questionnaire revised death anxiety scale and brief resilience coping scale were used to collect data. Pearson Product Moment Correlation revealed positive relationship between anxiety, rejection sensitivity and fear of death. Anxiety and rejection sensitivity indicated negative relationship with resilient coping. Mediate analysis showed that anxiety significantly predicted rejection sensitivity and fear of death, rejection sensitivity significantly predicted fear of death and rejection sensitivity significantly mediated between anxiety and rejection sensitivity. Moderated-mediation analysis showed anxiety as negative predictor of death anxiety while resilient coping and rejection sensitivity are positive predictors of fear of death. Resilient coping didn't moderate between anxiety and fear of death but the indirect effects of resilient coping on low and moderate level was significant. Independent Sample T-Test revealed significant generational differences in anxiety, significant gender differences in fear of death and significant family differences in rejection sensitivity. Significant family system differences were found only on rejection sensitivity with nuclear scored high. Study implications are discussed in health, clinical and counselling psychology.

Incidence of Infection and Mortality in Surgeries of Sports Injuries during COVID-19 Pandemic at Ghurki Trust Teaching Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan

Aim: To find out if there was a negative impact or consequence of performing surgeries related to sports injuries during COVID-19 period when most of the hospital services were suspended all over the globe. Study design: Prospective study Place and duration of study: Department Orthopaedic and Spine, Ghurki Trust Teaching Hospital, Lahore from 19thMarch 2020 to 6thAugust 2020. Methodology: Seventy patients with sports injuries were enrolled. The history and thorough clinical examination, X-rays and CBC along with other relevant investigations were recorded. The patients were discharged in 24 to 74 hours period intervals and all the necessary SOPs regarding COVID-19 were strictly followed. Results: None of the patients who underwent procedure developed infection or acquired coronavirus illness after discharge from the hospital or during follow-ups in OPD. Conclusion: The surgeries performed during COVID-19 did not result in wound infection or patient-related mortality.

Impacts of COVID-19 on agriculture and food security in developing countries: potential mitigation strategies

Despite efforts to reduce global food insecurity, success has been limited in many developing countries due to numerous inherent problems. The challenges and vulnerabilities associated with food security in these countries have been exacerbated by the current coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. As a rapid response strategy to minimize the coronavirus' spread, countries have put in place different forms of movement restrictions, locally and globally, which have therefore affected agricultural production, food availability, and accessibility. Focusing on the four pillars of food security, this paper provides an overview of the pandemic's impacts on food availability, accessibility, utilization, and stability drawing examples from different developing countries. The report also suggests some response strategies that could be adopted or (where already in existence) strengthened to promote food security in developing countries, during and after a pandemic/crisis. The strategies of major concern to ensure continued availability and accessibility of food during and after a pandemic/crisis include (i) establishment of community-based food networks, (ii) food and agriculture data collection and maintenance, (iii) stabilizing food prices, (iv) infrastructural development for food security, (v) increasing investment in agricultural research and policies, (vi) adopting modern farming practices, and (vii) reduction and management of agricultural and food waste.