Public Ownership and Local Bank Lending at the Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from Indonesia

3.86 Catatonia in the Child and Adolescent Population at the Johns Hopkins Hospital During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Retrospective Study

We investigated if the COVID-19 pandemic's onset caused changes in political attitudes. Influential theories predict that the pandemic's onset will cause people to adopt more conservative attitudes, more culturally conservative attitudes, or more extreme attitudes. We comprehensively tested the external validity of these predictions by estimating the causal effect of the pandemic's onset on 84 political attitudes and eight perceived threats using fine-grained repeated cross-sectional data (Study 1, N = 232,684) and panel data (Study 2, N = 552) collected in the United States. Although the pandemic's onset caused feelings of threat, the onset only caused limited attitude change (six conservative shifts, four extremity shifts, 12 liberal shifts, 62 no change). Prominent theories of threat and politics did not make accurate predictions for this major societal threat. Our results highlight the necessity of testing psychological theories' predictive powers in real-life circumstances.

Our review critically examines research on trends in mental health among US adults following the COVID-19 pandemic's onset and makes recommendations for research on the topic. Studies comparing pre-pandemic nationally representative government surveys ("benchmark surveys") with pandemic-era non-benchmark surveys generally estimated 3-4-fold increases in the prevalence of adverse mental-health outcomes following the pandemic's onset. However, studies analyzing trends in repeated waves of a single survey, which may carry a lower risk of bias, generally estimated much smaller increases in adverse outcomes. Likewise in our analysis of benchmark surveys, we estimated <1% increases in the prevalence of adverse outcomes from 2018/2019-2021. Finally, studies analyzing vital-statistics data estimated spiking fatal-overdose rates, but stable suicide rates. Although fatal-overdose rates increased substantially following the pandemic's onset, evidence suggests the population prevalence of other adverse mental-health outcomes may have departed minimally from prior years' trends, at least through 2021. Future research on trends through the pandemic's later stages should prioritize leveraging repeated waves of benchmark surveys to minimize risk of bias.

Unmet dental needs involve cases wherein someone needed dental care and did not receive it. Published data on unmet dental needs are limited. This cross-sectional study investigates unmet dental needs in Greece before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. For this study, a questionnaire was created and distributed to a non-random sample. It was completed by 277 individuals. The questionnaire was based on the European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) tool, which is used to investigate unmet health needs. It was enriched with questions about unmet dental needs before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Of the 277 participants, 23.1% reported unmet dental needs before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which decreased to 13.4% after the onset of the pandemic. However, a significant proportion of the sample (48.3%) reported no need for dental care after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is also worth noting that there were instances of dental visit avoidance, both when symptoms were present and for standard check-up/follow-up purposes, at rates of 17% and 27.8%, respectively. Unmet dental needs occurred at lower rates after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic than those recorded before the pandemic. The main reasons for unmet needs before the pandemic were the cost of dental services and fear of treatment procedures or the visit to the dentist, while after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, lack of time and fear of coronavirus transmission were added.

We conducted a longitudinal study to clarify the changes in the sense of coherence (SOC); that is, the ability to cope with stress successfully, of 166 Japanese junior high school students and their mothers before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. First, we analyzed changes in SOC at three time points for all students and divided them into two groups: Group 1 included students with SOC scores that increased or maintained before and after the onset of the pandemic and Group 2 included students with decreased SOC scores after the onset of the pandemic. Second, we conducted a comparative analysis between the two groups. Overall, results indicated that student's SOC scores increased. Additionally, interpersonal stress scores were lower after the onset of the pandemic than before. There were almost no differences in family relationships, financial conditions, or personality tendencies between the two groups. However, Group 2 did not regain their sense of belonging to school. In this group, the frequency of stress experiences in club activities after the onset of the pandemic, troubles with the opposite gender, and inability to catch up with the contents of the subject lecture were high. The accumulation of small stressors may have hindered the maintenance of a sense of school affiliation. Mothers of students in Group 2 either were full-time employees at baseline or had started a new job after the onset of the pandemic. Their children may have been affected by the household's damaged financial budget and changes in mother's working styles. As COVID-19 reduced the number of days students went to school, students' SOC could have reduced had they not felt a sense of presence or belonging due to the lack of participation in club activities, school events, etc. Teachers and mothers should communicate carefully with their students and children, respectively, to develop a sense of belonging.

ObjectiveThe COVID‐19 pandemic has had considerable economic repercussions for young workers. The current study was undertaken to examine the impact of the pandemic on the employment of young adults with rheumatic disease and on perceptions of work and health.MethodsSurveys were administered to young adults with rheumatic disease prior to and following the onset of the COVID‐19 pandemic. Surveys asked about employment status and collected information on sociodemographic, disease/health, and work‐context factors. Items also asked about the perceived impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on work and health. A generalized estimating equation model was fitted to examine the effect of the pandemic on employment.ResultsIn total, 133 young adults completed the pre–COVID‐19 pandemic survey (mean age 28.9 years, 82% women). When compared to the pre–COVID‐19 pandemic period, employment decreased from 86% to 71% following the pandemic, but no other changes were identified in sociodemographic, disease/health, or work‐context factors. The time period following the COVID‐19 pandemic was associated with a 72% lower odds of employment compared to the pre‐pandemic period (odds ratio 0.28 [95% confidence interval 0.11–0.71]). Those with a postsecondary education or who reported more mental job demands were more likely to be employed following the onset of the pandemic. Also, a majority of participants reported that the pandemic affected health care (83%), treatment access (54%), working conditions (92%), and occupational health and safety (74%).ConclusionThe onset of the COVID‐19 pandemic had socioeconomic implications for young people with rheumatic disease. To support economic recovery for individuals with rheumatic disease, strategies to promote employment should be designed that account for the young adult life phase and occupational characteristics.

This study aims to examine the impact of firm characteristics on the operational, financial, and market performance of Saudi listed firms during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study applies a number of regression models over the period from Q3 2019 to Q3 2020, thereby enabling the examination of key drivers in the pre- and post-crisis periods. We find that the operational, financial, and market performance measures all saw a significant drop with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The models show that larger firms displayed better performance both before and after the pandemic, though there is some evidence of a weakening of this relation for return on equity (ROE) with the onset of the pandemic. Leverage is a clear negative driver of firm performance across the three measures both before and after the onset of the pandemic, though there is evidence that the effect strengthens after the crisis. Neither sales revenue scale nor firm liquidity exerts a significant impact on firm performance measures. Certain industry types, such as materials (petrochemicals), consumer services, real estate, and consumer durables &amp; apparel appear most affected by the pandemic. Surprisingly, the regression models do not show a significant impact on the scale of the performance measures with the onset of the pandemic. The results of this study have wide implications for decision-makers, illustrating the imperative for regulatory bodies, governments and central banks to combine forces to reduce the financial and economic impacts of the pandemic both now and in the future.

The COVID‐19 pandemic is the most serious health crisis facing the modern world; hospital admissions have risen dramatically. Urticaria is characterized by itchy edematous papules/plaques, angioedema, and involvement of one or both of the deep dermis or subcutis. We investigated the effect of the COVID‐19 pandemic on the incidence of acute and chronic urticaria, the proportions of urticaria patients among all dermatology patients before and after the onset of the pandemic, and age and sex characteristics. About 57 patients diagnosed with urticaria before the onset of the COVID‐19 pandemic in December 2019 and January and February 2020 at the Dermatology Polyclinic of Beysehir State Hospital, and 25 patients diagnosed within 3 months (March‐May 2020) after the onset of the pandemic, were included. We retrospectively recorded age, sex, and the duration of the disease. Patients were divided into those with acute and chronic urticaria using the EAACI/GA(2)/LEN/EDF/WAO guidelines and data obtained before and after the onset of the pandemic were compared. Fifty‐one (62.2%) patients were female and the mean patient age was 40.88 ± 17.38 years. We found no significant difference in the mean age or sex distribution before and after the onset of the pandemic (P = .341; P = .604). The proportion of urticaria patients (1.6%) among all dermatology patients treated in a 3‐month period after the onset of the pandemic was higher than that before the pandemic (1.19%; P < .001). During the pandemic, the acute urticaria rate was significantly higher than before the pandemic (P = .002). The urticaria rate (particularly that of acute disease) increased during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Dermatologists should consider whether patients with urticaria might be infected with COVID‐19.

This study aims to examine the impact of firm characteristics on the operational, financial, and market performance of Saudi listed firms during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study applies several regression models over the period from Q3 2019 to Q3 2020, thereby enabling the examination of key drivers in the pre- and post- crisis periods. We find that the operational, financial, and market performance measures all saw a significant drop with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The models show that larger firms displayed better performance both before and after the pandemic, though there is some evidence of a weakening of this relation for return on equity (ROE) with the onset of the pandemic. Leverage is a clear negative driver of firm performance across the three measures both before and after the onset of the pandemic, though there is evidence that the effect strengthens after the crisis. Neither sales revenue scale nor firm liquidity exerts a significant impact on firm performance measures. Certain industry types, such as materials (petrochemicals), consumer services, real estate, and consumer durables & apparel appear most affected by the pandemic. Surprisingly, the regression models do not show a significant impact on the scale of the performance measures with the onset of the pandemic. The results of this study have wide implications for decision-makers, illustrating the imperative for regulatory bodies, governments, and central banks to combine forces to reduce the financial and economic impacts of the pandemic both now and in the future.

BackgroundThe onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States in March 2020 caused a dramatic change in the way many people lived. Few aspects of daily life were left undisrupted by the pandemic’s onset as well as the accompanying policies to control the spread of the disease. Previous research has found that the pandemic may have significantly impacted the mental health of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals—potentially more so than other individuals. However, the pandemic did not affect all areas of the United States at the same time, and there may be regional variation in the impact of the onset of the pandemic on depressive symptoms among LGBTQ individuals.ObjectiveTo assess regional variation of the impact of the pandemic, we conducted a time series analysis stratified by US geographic region to examine symptoms of depression and anxiety among a sample of primarily cisgender gay and bisexual men before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.MethodsIn total, 5007 participants completed assessments as part of the Together 5000 study, an ongoing prospective cohort study. Depressive and anxiety symptoms were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-4. Patient Health Questionnaire-4 scores were graphed as a function of days from March 15, 2020. Locally estimated scatterplot smoothing trend lines were applied. A sieve-bootstrap Mann-Kendall test for monotonic trend was conducted to assess the presence and direction of trends in the scatterplots. We then compared the observed trends to those observed for 1 year prior (2018-2019) to the pandemic onset using data collected from the same sample.ResultsSignificant positive trends were detected for the Northeast (P=.03) and Midwest (P=.01) regions of the United States in the 2020 assessment, indicating that symptoms of anxiety and depression were increasing in the sample in these regions immediately prior to and during the onset of the pandemic. In contrast, these trends were not present in data from the 2018 to 2019 assessment window.ConclusionsSymptoms of anxiety and depression increased among the study population in the Northeast and Midwest during the beginning months of the COVID-19 pandemic, but similar increase was not observed in the South and West regions. These trends were also not found for any region in the 2018 to 2019 assessment window. This may indicate region-specific trends in anxiety and depression, potentially driven by the burden of the pandemic and policies that varied from region to region. Future studies should consider geographic variation in COVID-19 spread and policies as well as explore potential mechanisms by which this could influence the mental health of LGBTQ individuals.

Trajectories of depressive symptoms and subjective well-being before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic: Two six-year longitudinal studies

Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening is underutilized among those with lower socioeconomic status and in racial and ethnic minoritized populations who have been disproportionately impacted by COVID. To compare disparities in CRC screening before and after the onset of the COVID pandemic among privately insured individuals. Retrospective cohort study using deidentified claims data from the USA between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2022. Blue Cross Blue Shield beneficiaries aged 50-75years with average risk of CRC. Mean screening use was compared by demographic and area-level socioeconomic factors between the periods preceding (January 1,2017 to February 28,2020) and following (July 1,2020 to December 31,2022) the onset of the COVID pandemic. Difference-in-differences analysis was used to evaluate changes in screening differences. Our study included 21,724,223 beneficiaries. Compared to males, females had higher screening in both periods (p < 0.05), and this sex difference in screening increased 1.63% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.32%, 1.94%) following the onset of the pandemic. Compared to residents in areas with high socioeconomic status (SES), low SES area residents had lower screening (p < 0.001) during both periods. Furthermore, this difference grew 4.32% (95% CI, 3.76%, 4.88%) during the post-onset period. Metropolitan area residents had higher screening than non-metropolitan area residents during both periods (p < 0.001); however, this difference decreased 0.77% (95% CI, 0.34%, 1.20%) during the post-onset period. Among beneficiaries with high risk of CRC, the difference in screening based on social deprivation index and metropolitan area status increased 6.99% (95% CI, 5.77%, 8.20%) and 1.82% (95% CI, 0.88%, 2.74%), respectively. Among privately insured individuals, CRC screening after the COVID pandemic recovered unevenly based on sex, area-level socioeconomic measures, and metropolitan area status, with pre-pandemic disparities persisting and even worsening for some of the factors.

Assessing the Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Abortion Care Utilization and Delays and Whether There Was a Differential Impact Among Latinas in North Carolina.

Decrease in prevalence but increase in frequency of non-marijuana drug use following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in a large cohort of young men who have sex with men and young transgender women

Does ROSE matter? Evaluation of final diagnostic, PD-L1 immunohistochemistry, and molecular testing yields of CT-guided lung biopsies performed before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic