COVID-19 Epidemic Research Articles

Indigenous Motherwork in Crisis: Caregiving, Resistance, and Community Survival During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract This study describes the lived experiences of Indigenous mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on caregiving strategies, resilience, and leadership within their families and communities while navigating systemic gendered and racial inequalities. The COVID-19 pandemic amplified long-standing structural inequities, disproportionately impacting Indigenous communities. As primary caregivers and cultural stewards, Indigenous mothers faced intensified burdens, including economic precarity, expanded domestic labor, and systemic exclusions. Their caregiving, however, functioned as a site of resistance, reinforcing intergenerational survivance and asserting Indigenous sovereignty through relational care. A total of 31 critical ethnographic interviews were conducted with Indigenous mothers following an Indigenous research framework. Interviews explored survival strategies, power dynamics, and responsibilities amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Emergent themes included prioritizing survival needs, navigating institutional barriers, and exercising cultural resilience in caregiving. Despite increased family community and sociopolitical stressors, Indigenous mothers demonstrated adaptability, leadership, and collective strength. Indigenous mothers demonstrated resilience and resourcefulness in sustaining their families and communities amid the COVID-19 crisis. Their experiences underscore the need for culturally responsive interventions and policies that recognize and support Indigenous mothering as a foundation for community well-being. Findings highlight the urgency of policy reforms, targeted resource allocation, and culturally affirming support systems that empower Indigenous mothers as leaders and caregivers. Investing in their well-being strengthens entire communities.

Predicting eWOM in a B2B International Trade Fair

This research aims to explain the volume of eWOM in the context of international trade shows based on (1) social media content strategies, (2) social media message features, and (3) time frame (posting date ex ante COVID-19 crisis or posting date ex post COVID-19 crisis). The data were collected from Twitter, using a tweet as the unit of analysis. In total 3,482 tweets were analyzed: 1,930 tweets from January 1, 2019, to March 10, 2020 (period 1, posting date ex ante COVID-19) and 1,552 tweets from March 11, 2020, to August 31, 2021 (period 2, posting date ex post COVID-19). Our results show, on one side, that the usage of some social media content strategies (informational and transformational strategies) and some social media message features (videos, mentions and photos) influences the eWOM volume. On another side, tweets published in ex ante COVID-19 predicted eWOM volume better than ex post.

Visegrad four as an institution in times of EU crises

ABSTRACT The primary aim of this paper is to provide an empirical comparative analysis of the collective actions of the Visegrád Group (V4) during three major EU crises – the migration crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the war in Ukraine. The secondary aim is to assess the V4 as a political institution and its potential contribution to European integration. While regional coalitions within the EU have been extensively studied, the role of the V4 in times of crisis remains underexplored. Our analysis demonstrates that, contrary to expectations, crisis severity did not determine the level of V4 activity. Instead, the extent of cooperation was shaped by domestic political factors within V4 countries. Whereas the migration crisis activated the V4 as a cohesive actor, the COVID-19 crisis and the war in Ukraine exposed internal fragmentation. These findings contribute to the debate on regional cooperation in the EU, highlighting the contingent nature of sub-regional coalitions in periods of crisis.

Guardians of health discourse: Analysis of sourcing practices of foreign correspondents in the coverage of COVID-19 pandemic in Africa

The scholarly fascination with sourcing practices is a long tradition in media and communication studies due to the influence of sources over the production of news stories and in shaping the news narratives. In health journalism, the sourcing techniques often pit expert sources against citizen voices. In this study we investigated the sourcing practices of foreign correspondents and the challenges of reporting the COVID-19 crisis in Africa. The journalists ( n = 18) interviewed for this study were drawn from various international media organisations that cut across radio, television, print and wire services with strong presence in Nairobi, Kenya. Using an inductive thematic analysis approach, the results showed that the reporters relied mainly on official sources that prioritised the use of statistical evidence of mortality and infection rates to frame the pandemic narratives on the continent. Although the journalists acknowledged the significance of lay persons as sources, they were used sparingly to mostly (in)validate government claims and highlight the impact of the pandemic on the people. Furthermore, criteria used by the reporters to select framers of the health discourse differed from expert and non-expert sources. The sourcing and reporting challenges in the pandemic coverage ranged from limited training of most journalists on health journalism to difficulty in getting some sources to adapt or adjust to changes in journalistic routines occasioned by the pandemic. The findings illuminated and demonstrated the need for balanced sourcing practices in health journalism and the implication for health communication and public understanding of science in crisis moments.

Effectiveness of mental health first aid as a supportive tactic on resilience and organisational environment-related factors among hospital nurses in the wake of COVID-19: the search continues.

The implementation of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) has been shown to effectively prevent long-term psychological effects of trauma. Additionally, it aids nurses in stabilising their emotional state and facilitates their practical recovery. To investigate the effect of MHFA on resilience capacity, organisational commitment, job insecurity and turnover among nurses working in the COVID-19 isolation units. Sixty nurses in COVID-19 isolation units participated in a quasi-experimental two-group, pre-post-test research. Nurses with low resilience capacity due to the COVID-19 crisis in Egypt completed a baseline survey. The study group employed MHFA strategies using the RAPID model. At the same time, standard psychological care was provided to the control group. A statistically significant improvement in resilience and organisational commitments mean scores among the study group (62.50 ± 19.33, 21.67 ± 9.66, respectively) post-intervention. Besides, a significant decline in the study group's job insecurity and turnover intention mean scores (8.90 ± 2.32, 8.70 ± 2.34, respectively) after the MHFA intervention. Implementing MHFA enhances nurses' ability to withstand the challenges of COVID-19, significantly boosting their resilience. Additionally, it positively impacts their organisational commitment, reducing both job insecurity and turnover intention.

Financial Knowledge and Financial Fragility: Longitudinal Evidence from Italy

Abstract This paper analyses the role of financial knowledge on individuals’ financial fragility during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using novel longitudinal data on Italian adults for the period 2020–2023 and addressing potential endogeneity issues, we find that more financially knowledgeable individuals are less likely to face difficulties in coping with unexpected expenses. Furthermore, we show that higher levels of pre-pandemic financial resilience are associated with lower financial fragility during the COVID-19 crisis. These results are robust to estimation approaches, sample composition, and measures of financial knowledge. The effect of financial knowledge on financial fragility is found to be heterogeneous across different subgroups of the population and is more beneficial for women and individuals more severely hit by the pandemic, with lower incomes and lower pre-pandemic resilience. Finally, we uncover the existence of true state dependence in the probability of being financially fragile and provide evidence that financial knowledge might also play a significant role in reducing the trapping effect of financial fragility.

HOW MONETARY POLICY CAN IMPACT FINANCIAL CRISIS?

Central banks tend to participate in the market to calm and deflect the disasters generating a tangled relationship between monetary policy and financial crises.The money supply and interest rates that are present in the market as a result of central bank policy can affect asset prices and investor confidence.This study investigates the relationship between developing monetary policy options during a financial crisis and shedding light on the choices that lead to optimal balance and prevent development of existing weaknesses.It also emphasizes that, even with experience, there should be no loose ends and that precautions should be made to avoid long-term, systematic problems.The purpose of these monetary policy tools is to balance the needs of inflation control, economic growth, and financial stability. The RBI frequently makes changes to these tools because macroeconomic data and economic conditions are ever-changing.Throughout its recent economic history, India has suffered various financial crises, indicating to reasons, such as bad fiscal management, foreign shocks, or troubles with the banking industry. The vulnerability of India's financial system to both internal and external shocks is shown by crises such as the COVID-19 Crisis of 2020. In order to improve crisis management practices and encourage preventative actions to decrease the likelihood that such disasters will occur again, the RBI and the Indian government have strengthened financial legislation and regulations. Strategies that reduce the damage caused by financial crises are developed in order to comprehend the relationship between monetary policy and these occurrences. KEYWORDS: Monetary policy, Financial crisis, Macroeconomic, Central bank, Economic growth.

Brazilian Public Spending Cap and the Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Brazilian Constitutional Amendment No. 95/16 established a spending caps regime for the Union's primary expenditures, innovating in relation to the fiscal targets regime of the Fiscal Responsibility Law. However, the alternatives for fiscal balance are the object of dispute between different approaches of economic and social policy advocacy groups. The purpose of this paper is to carry out an analysis of the value systems of coalitions that defend antagonistic positions in the fiscal policy subsystem and to map the main actors of these coalitions. As a result of applying the Advocacy Coalition Framework, it was identified that the Covid-19 pandemic is an event (external shock) of large proportions. Nonetheless, during the period analyzed, this external shock was not sufficient to affect the policy core beliefs of the existing coalitions. Comparatively, this is also the conclusion we reached when analyzing the behavior of fiscal consolidation measures in the European Union in the face of the Covid-19 crisis.

A helyi élelmiszerprojektek korlátozott hozzájárulása az élelmiszer-rugalmassághoz: A francia Területi Élelmiszerprojektek esete

In the context of multiple crises (environmental, health, conflict…) at different scales affecting food systems, i.e. the social-ecological systems within which humans organize themselves to obtain and consume their food, this article examines how local food policies relay a vision centered on food resilience implemented at the scale of international food policies and enable its application. The concept of resilience is currently increasingly used to investigate how food systems operate. This concept highlights a system’s ability to maintain its functions despite disturbances, and scholars identify different types of resilience (robustness, recovery, reorientation). At various levels, calls for making food systems more resilient and sustainable appear, particularly since the Covid-19 crisis, which highlighted the vulnerability of many food systems to the risk of supply disruptions. However, what players and what schemes and initiatives might reinforce the resilience of food systems? Using the case of Territorial Food Projects, which are French voluntary local food policies, we answer the following questions: do local food policies aim to and contribute to strengthening food resilience? If so, what forms of resilience prevail and what type of food systems do they reinforce? We set up our survey in the Nouvelle Aquitaine region, which is a powerful agricultural region on a French and European scale. Our qualitative survey methodology is based on semi-structured interviews with 25 regional food project coordinators in the Nouvelle Aquitaine region, and on participant observation. We carry out a qualitative analysis of our data, based on a resilience analysis grid developed from the scientidc literature, in order to identify the vulnerability factors to which the studied Territorial Food projects aim to respond, the extent to which the objectives and actions underway are meeting the challenges, and what type of resilience they target. The results section of the paper demonstrates that French local food policies can help to strengthen resilience factors in local agriculture in an indirect way. However, they do not enable in-depth, long-term transformation of food systems, due to limited resources and an approach to resilience solely from the angle of robustness and recovery in the face of disruption. In discussion, we emphasize the importance of implementing adaptive and reflexive governance based on territorial integration at different scales, to support the profound reorientation of food systems towards more justice and democracy.

Conditions and Results of Innovative Development in Latin America and Russia: a Comparative Analysis

Relevance. The problems of innovative development and effective innovation management have long been a priority in the world economy and, most likely, their relevance will be in the mainstream for many years to come. The paper analyses the provision and performance of innovation processes in nine countries of Latin America and Russia in order to identify the most successful economies in terms of approaches and effects of innovation activity in different evaluation planes. The specifics of structural efficiency of innovation activity components in crisis and post-crisis periods have been studied.Research methods — comparative analysis of the structure of the global innovation index (GII) in the target countries in 2020 and 2023, multiple regression analysis of the impact of resources and innovation results on the level of the global innovation index, t-statistics to compare the innovation dynamics of the target countries in the period from 2020 to 2023.Scientific novelty — on the basis of statistical approach the specifics of innovative development of Latin American countries and Russia and regularities of achieving different levels of the global innovation index in the crisis and postcrisis periods are revealed.The results of the study show that the leaders in terms of GII level among Latin American countries are Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, Colombia and Argentina, and the most important for the formation of GII are the components of innovation results — the development of technology and knowledge economy, as well as the results of creative activity. Ecuador and Peru are the countries with the most detached innovation development trajectory. In the year of the covid crisis the components of institutions and market development were particularly developed, in the post-covid year — the level of business development, as well as human capital and research. Finally, the dynamics of GII in Russia is closest to Brazil in most components. The results obtained are of practical value as a reference point in the development and adoption of economic and political decisions on the reallocation and concentration of resources for the development of the most effective components of GII.

Adherence to COVID-19 Public Health and Social Measures in Estonia

Abstract: Introduction: During the COVID-19 outbreak, adherence to public health and social measures was critical to containing the spread of the disease. This paper examines adherence to COVID-19 public health and social measures (PHSM) in Estonia at three timepoints during the pandemic: Jan–Feb 2021, May–June 2021, and Jan–Feb 2022. Methods: Using latent class analysis on a population-based sample, we address individual-level demographic, socioeconomic, psychological, and behavioral variables that predicted adherence patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: For each of the three study waves, adherence to the 12 selected measures was best captured by a three-class model, with the classes identified as adherent, selectively adherent, and nonadherent. Discussion and Conclusion: Predictors of lower adherence included being male, having a lower level of education, experiencing financial strain, high-risk alcohol consumption, younger age, and perceiving no or low stress because of the COVID-19 crisis.

Corona crisis not yet overcome

After two years, the small 'Monitor' series on 'Corona and politics: the role of science' is coming to an end. Over two years, 24 articles have been published that have illuminated the topic from all sides: our sincere thanks go to all the authors.

Escape Game to Promote Students' Mental Health Outcomes in the Aftermaths of COVID-19 Pandemic: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study Evaluating a Cocreated Intervention.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the protracted lockdowns have heavily impacted university students' mental health. Digital Escape Games represent a good means to reach students and propose them solutions for their psychological well-being. This study aimed to evaluate a cocreated digital Escape Game on students' mental health in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, called EscapeCovid Game. The evaluation of the effectiveness of this stand-alone intervention concerns mental health outcomes (mental health literacy, appraisal and change of beliefs about mental health, management of emotions, and development of coping strategies) and the appreciation and relevance of the game. A randomized controlled trial with pre- and posttest data collection (online questionnaires with validated scales) is conducted among 500 students in Bordeaux, France, to evaluate the EscapeCovid Game cocreated with students, researchers, health professionals, and web developers. A subsample of students is randomly selected for responding to a semistructured interview following a mixed methods design. Recruitment is done through mail invitations from student associations and presentations in university classes. Half of the sample of the trial plays the Escape Game, while the other half receives an email with mental health-related information. Within the game, students discuss their personal experiences. The text is further used for the qualitative analyses. The whole study is carried out online. The EscapeCovid Game has been developed, tested, and finalized by the end of March 2023. As of November 4, 2024, a total of 191 students have answered the baseline questionnaire (90 intervention vs 101 control). A total of 23 students have played the game and 53 are in the control arm. Among participants, by the end of September 20, 2023, twenty were interviewed (10 intervention and 10 control) reaching sample saturation. According to preliminary results, the EscapeCovid Game has had a positive impact on all defined outcomes, while the email has been effective in increasing knowledge on resources available and on coping strategies and meditation techniques. We expect the trial to be completed by the end of June 2025. The mixed methods findings of this study are due to demonstrate the effectiveness of the EscapeCovid Game in improving students' mental health outcomes. Preliminary results from the qualitative substudy are promising: in the aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis, this intervention is intended to promote players' mental health through gamification, knowledge transfer, and a learning-by-doing approach. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06720792; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06720792. DERR1-10.2196/64068.

Positive institutional distance and developing country firms in GVCs during the COVID-19 period

PurposeGiven the importance of directions in institutional distance studies, noticeably absent from the global value chains (GVCs) literature is an examination of positive institutional distance and its “greasing-the-wheels” effect, which could complement our understanding of the dark side of institutional distance in GVCs. This study attempts to fill this gap by exploring the effect of positive institutional distance on GVC participation in developing countries during the COVID-19 crisis in detail.Design/methodology/approachOur sample includes GVCs-related trade data from 32 developing nations in 2020 collected from the World Integrated Trade Solution. We analyzed the non-linear interactions based on the procedure outlined by Jaccard (2003) to test both the main effect and the moderating effect.FindingsFor a sample of GVCs-related trade data from 32 developing nations in 2020, we found strong evidence that positive institutional distance positively affects GVC participation in developing countries. In addition, the stringency of lockdown policies in the destination country moderates this relationship in a U-shaped manner and a negative linear manner in the source countries.Originality/valueFirst, this study explores the “bright” side of institutional distance during the COVID-19 crisis, emphasizing the importance of the direction of institutional distance in maintaining GVC participation. Additionally, the study highlights the positive aspect of the pandemic by promoting developing country firms' participation in institutionally remote countries. It departs from existing literature by focusing on GVC participation in the context of uncertainty and crises. Lastly, the study empirically tests a U-shaped moderator, offering new insights for research models with non-linear independent variables.

A mixed-methods study of the drivers of stunting reduction among children under-5 in Sierra Leone, 2005-2017.

A mixed-methods study of the drivers of stunting reduction among children under-5 in Sierra Leone, 2005-2017.

Digitalized social infrastructure and mental health during the COVID-19 crisis: Evidence from communities in Shanghai

Digitalized social infrastructure and mental health during the COVID-19 crisis: Evidence from communities in Shanghai

What shapes the outdoor learning practices in Israeli kindergartens? ECE teachers’ perceptions

The importance of outdoor learning to support children’s learning and development has been recognized by research and policy. It carries the potential for social interactions, and authentic, informal, and playful learning. It fosters curiosity and creativity and develops the ability to deal with uncertain and risky situations. The Israeli Ministry of Education encourages a variety of outdoor learning activities, in and near the preschool yard. During the COVID-19 crisis, learning in outdoor spaces became even more important for children, staff, and parents. The aim of this research is to understand early childhood education teachers’ perceptions of what shapes the outdoor practices in Israeli preschools. This study was based on a mixed-methods methodology, as it included qualitative (semi-structured interviews) and quantitative components (survey-questionnaire). Participants were 85 ECE teachers: 75 teachers participated in survey-questionnaire and 10 teachers participated in semi-structured interviews. The qualitative data analysis was performed using an inductive approach, which is based on an interpretive content analysis that is prevalent in the grounded theory paradigm. The results showed that most of the preschool teachers acknowledged the great importance of outdoor learning to a variety of learning areas. The teachers considered outdoor learning as providing a meaningfully “high contribution” to social-emotional and scientific learning, and for motor, cognitive and linguistic development. According to the teachers’ perceptions, parents, preschool staff, the municipal authorities, and the Ministry of Education all serve as influential factors for outdoor learning. In addition, the findings revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the ways of working in outdoor spaces.

Impacts of pandemic shocks on China's financial options volatility: Evidence from COVID-19 crisis

Impacts of pandemic shocks on China's financial options volatility: Evidence from COVID-19 crisis

PARENT INVOLVEMENT IN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC: EFFECTS AND BARRIERS

The coronavirus crisis caused significant changes in the global education system, with direct impact on about 1.6 billion students around the world, while presenting unique challenges to parents, students, and teachers. The rapid transition to online learning required adjustments on the part of the students and the teachers and also presented the parents with the need to fill new roles of educational accompaniment and emotional support, sometimes without prior preparation. The present research study examines the influences of the coronavirus lockdowns on the dynamics between parents and teaching workers, while focusing on the main challenges facing them. The research findings identified major barriers, such as personal, logistical, and financial difficulties, which limited the parents’ ability to cope with the new reality and provide optimal support to their children. The research conclusions emphasize the need to design an educational policy that supports parents, with the aim of reducing educational and social gaps and improving the children’s achievements during similar periods of crisis in the future.

Children’s Posttraumatic Growth in the Aftermath of the Covid-19 Pandemic in Austria: A Mixed Methods Study

There is a paucity of research exploring the potential positive changes in the aftermath of a crisis from the perspective of children. The present study sought to address this gap by examining posttraumatic growth (PTG) among North Tyrolean (Austria) and South Tyrolean (Northern Italy) children aged 8–12 at the final phase of the Covid COVID-19 crisis utilising a convergent parallel mixed methods design. In total, 101 children (50.5% girls) participated in an online study exploring the factor structure of the German Posttraumatic Growth Inventory for Children and the relationship between posttraumatic growth and distress (as measured by the Child and Adolescent Trauma Screen). Twenty of these children participated in an interview and answered questions about in which ways they are, feel or think differently since the crisis. The results of the principal component analysis indicated a three-factor structure: interpersonal, person-centred, and spiritual change dimension of growth. The total scores of the German PTGI-C-R were positively associated with posttraumatic stress symptoms. The qualitative findings revealed four PTG dimensions that corresponded to the original growth dimensions. The children did not mention spiritual change, however, a new growth dimension emerged “adjustment to new circumstances”. The themes “relationships” and “adjustment to new circumstances” were found to be positive and negative in nature, and were assigned to PTG and PTD, respectively. In conclusion, the results support Tedeschi and Calhoun’s growth model. The children exhibited a holistic perspective of the crisis encompassing both negative and possible positive aspects. The interconnectedness of resilience and the cornerstones of positive psychology underscore the imperative for the promotion of both in non-crisis contexts, thereby enhancing the likelihood of children deriving positive outcomes from such periods.