Elderly Relatives Research Articles

Elder relatives in waking life correlated with both elder relatives in dreams and animals in dreams.

Elder relatives in waking life correlated with both elder relatives in dreams and animals in dreams.

Vaccine Hesitancy at Nine Community Sites Across the United States, Early in COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout.

Vaccine hesitancy has been a significant concern throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccine hesitancy can be attributed to lack of confidence in vaccines, complacency about the health threat, or lack of convenience of vaccination. To date, few studies have used methods designed to include populations underrepresented in research when identifying factors associated with vaccine hesitancy. Between January and July 2021, potential participants were recruited from community venues selected through time-location sampling in 15 defined communities in the United States. Study staff administered a questionnaire on demographics, COVID-19 behaviors and attitudes, and vaccination status or intention to consenting individuals. Vaccine hesitancy was analyzed among those age 18years and older from nine of the 15 sites and was defined as self-reported neutral, unlikely, or very unlikely vaccine intention. Logistic regression modeling, adjusted for site, identified factors associated with vaccine hesitancy. Among 11,559 individuals, vaccine hesitancy by site ranged from 8.7 to 31.1%. Vaccine hesitancy was associated with being Black compared to White, being White compared to Asian, younger age, unstable housing, being unemployed, lower income, having a disability, providing care in home, not reporting inability to visit sick or elderly relatives during the pandemic, not reporting increased anxiety during the pandemic, and not spending more time with loved ones during the pandemic. In these selected US communities, early in vaccine rollout, there were significant racial disparities in vaccine hesitancy. Additionally, individuals who were more marginalized due to their socioeconomic status were more likely to report vaccine hesitancy. Vaccine campaigns should make efforts to remove barriers to vaccination, by improving convenience.

Continuation of the reform and opening-up policy in China in the 21st century in the focus of transformation of the mechanism of household budgetary decisions

Subject. The article considers features of the second stage (since 2000) of the reform and opening-up policy implementation in China, specifically, household income, expenditure, and investment decisions. Objectives. The focus is on the analysis of problems relevant to Chinese households, like population aging, rapid pace of digital transformation of the economy, and on the assessment of the impact of China's foreign policy on living standards. Methods. The study draws on methods of statistical analysis. Results. The study shows that measures aimed at changing the way households are registered in urban and rural areas, the higher education reform, large-scale marketization of medical care, commercialization of housing construction, and China's accession to the World Trade Organization have provided Chinese households not only with unprecedented dividends, but also with potential risks and opportunities. The key risk is the accelerated aging of the population, which requires households to spend additional money on elderly relatives. Conclusions. To maximize the impact of the reform and opening-up policies, it is important to focus both on minimizing the risks caused by population ageing and on the prospects for digital transformation, which significantly affect household budget decisions. Based on foreign experience and considering the national conditions, it is necessary to develop a system for improving digital literacy for the entire population.

Gender labor segregation in the care economy: needs research and solutions

The purpose of the research to determine the needs and workload of people who provide free care for their elderly relatives at home. Methodology – a mixed method was applied, which included an electronic individual questionnaire with open and closed questions among 201 residents of Kazakhstani urban and rural areas. Originality / value of the research - the first study in Kazakhstan aimed at identifying the needs and the time use of people engaged in unpaid care for their elderly relatives. Findings: A social and demographic portrait of a caregiver for an older adult at home was composed, the share of institutional, paid and unpaid care in households and the distribution of household workload between spouses were estimated, and the perception of gender equality in families was defi ned. The study showed that the basic needs of people caring for their older relatives at home included benefi ts and payments, services of a public social worker /compensation for care assistant services, a solid pension, an increase in the caregiver’s social status, free medicines and medical care. A shortage of institutional care services for older people in Kazakhstan has been identifi ed, and recommendations for developing a national care system have been proposed.

UKRAINIAN LABOR MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES IN ЕUROPEAN COUNTRIES: CONFLICTING NATURE OF MIGRATION POLICIES IN MODERN SOCIETIES

This paper critically examines and evaluates theoretical approaches to the internal conflict phenomenon of migration in the context of modern dynamics. The paper is devoted to the study of contemporary migration processes between Ukraine and European countries in the context of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The authors analyze theoretical approaches to the study of migration. In particular, based on an analysis of the literature, it was shown that simplified concepts, such as the "push and pull" theory, are not relevant for studying the migration of Ukrainians in European countries. Instead, the authors emphasize the need to apply new models, in particular, the theory of "migration aspirations and capabilities." The article considers the conflicting ideological approaches to the formation of migration policies of European countries, in particular the concepts of multiculturalism and assimilation. Particular attention is paid to the specifics of Poland's migration policy as one of the main recipient countries for Ukrainian migrants and refugees. The successes and gaps in Poland's integration strategies are analyzed, in particular the problem of "brain drain" of highly qualified workers from Ukraine. The need for a differentiated approach to different groups of migrants and the involvement of regional authorities in the development of migration policy is emphasized. The paper also highlights the gender aspect of migration processes, focusing on the specific challenges faced by women refugees from Ukraine. Issues of adaptation, preservation of cultural identity and overcoming internal conflicts in the new environment are considered. The importance of taking into account the factor of having minor children and elderly relatives in the process of integrating women refugees is emphasized. Overall, the article demonstrates a comprehensive approach to the study of migration processes, combining theoretical analysis, empirical data and gender studies. The authors attempt to expand the theoretical and methodological apparatus of migration research in the context of improving the understanding of the dynamics of modernity and its conflicts.

University Students’ Knowledge about Welfare Technologies within Active Aging Concept: An Online Survey Interview

Welfare technology has made a significant impact on society, supporting people´s communication, independence, and day-to-day living. This study aims to investigate university students' knowledge of welfare technologies related to smart active aging. The research was guided by the following questions: 1: What do Slovak university students know about welfare technologies? 2: How are welfare technologies used in the households of university students and their relatives? An online interview survey with reflexive thematic analysis was conducted with 120 university students at two universities in Slovakia. Findings show four themes that were identified: (1) Different interpretations of welfare technologies. (2) Broadening students’ knowledge about welfare smart technologies. (3) Attitudes towards smart and welfare technologies. (4) Gap in practical usage of welfare technologies. Welfare technology is a new topic connected to active aging. Primarily, the younger generation, as proved, has low knowledge on this theme. The novelty of the study lies in connecting the welfare technology concept with the education of the younger generation. Welfare technologies have the potential to promote positive intergenerational relationships, autonomy, and mental and physical well-being among older adults. As for improvements, smart active aging and welfare technology concepts should be incorporated more intensively into higher education. This would help curb the knowledge gap and ensure the development of skills for implementing welfare technologies in the daily lives of their elderly relatives. Doi: 10.28991/ESJ-2024-08-03-017 Full Text: PDF

Violences et maltraitances intrafamiliales (conjugales, infantiles et sur personnes âgées) : aspects épidémiologiques et approche psychopathologique

Intra-familial violence and abuse includes domestic violence that is not specifically identified as violence against women, abuse and violence against children or elderly relatives. This article provides a legal definition of the notions of violence and abuse. Abuse is virtually inseparable from the notion of vulnerability, which appeared in the 1994 Penal Code in France. The present article summarizes current epidemiological data in France and worldwide and highlights the obvious underestimation of domestic violence both in France and in other parts of the world. One French survey reported that in 1997, 50,000 women were victims of rape and more recently, that 225,000 women had reported being victims of domestic violence. In 2021, there were 143 murders in the context of domestic violence, 85% of which involved women. The mechanisms of this violence are usually described as consisting of 4 cyclic phases alternating between a climate of tension, aggression, disempowerment, and remission (repentance on the part of the perpetrator). From a psychodynamic viewpoint, the phenomenon of ascendancy, initially conceptualized by Freud, makes it possible to understand the submission of the victim towards the aggressor. This phenomenon can lead to the inability of the perpetrator to recognize the otherness of the other (the victim). Systemic approaches recall the notion of circular causality, making the victim part of the system without denying the responsibility for his acts on the part of the perpetrator. The consequences are usually very negative representations of self for the victim and an increased dependence toward the aggressor. The judicial and clinical world has for several years advocated dealing with perpetrators of conjugal violence by issuing an injunction to submit to treatment. This can also include victims who consent to these therapeutic proposals. Child abuse in France involved more than 35,000 children in 2018. In 80% of the cases, the perpetrators were one of the victim's parents. The abuse ranged from psychological violence (about 30%) to sexual violence (3.6%). Globally, the prevalence of physical violence against children was estimated to concern from 5 to 35% of children in 2014. Fifteen to 30% of girls versus 5 to 15% of boys are thought to have suffered some form of sexual violence. The tender age of the child is the first risk factor, given that 50% of violent deaths in 2011 concerned subjects under the age of four months. From a psychodynamic perspective, child abuse and violence induce trauma with lasting effects on the personality. Several authors mention resulting attachment disorders and behaviors similar to the Stockholm syndrome. Furthermore, in the neurosciences, repeated trauma is considered to lead to disruption between warning neuroanatomical structures and memorization structures, preventing the memorization of events as representations in a space-time continuum, and retaining them only as a strong stress signal. In addition to violent deaths and immediate traumatic facial injuries, this abuse leads to precarious physical and mental health throughout life. The abuse of older people has become a fact of society worldwide. This phenomenon potentially affects 141,000,000 people worldwide and nearly 7000 people in France. The victims are most often women, widows, and dependents and with some financial resources. The perpetrators are often reported to be exhausted caregivers, but this does not explain the frequency of abuse involving money. Prosecutions after the facts are reported are rare. There is an obvious, underestimation of intra-familial violence both in France and globally, whether this relates to the problems involved in reporting such incidents, or to the ambiguous definitions attributed to abuse. This article underlines how violence against the elderly is less often reported to the courts than those against women and children. Finally, the authors propose a psychopathological approach, neuroscientific insights and therapeutic perspectives on intra-family violence and abuse.

Understanding the Support Needs and Challenges Faced by Family Caregivers in the Care of Their Older Adults at Home. A Qualitative Study.

As the global population ages, the demand for family caregivers is expected to increase, underscoring the necessity to comprehend their support needs and challenges they face. However, caregiving often comes with various challenges and support needs that require attention. This study was aimed to gain an in-depth understanding of the support needs and challenges faced by family caregivers who provide care to their elderly loved ones at home. The study was conducted in Mekelle City, Ethiopia from December 2022 to October 2023 using a phenomenology study design and purposive sampling technique. A total of twenty-two in-depth interviews were conducted using an open-ended guide. The interviews were transcribed verbatim, entered into ATLAS.ti8 software, translated, and analyzed using a thematic analysis. The study found that family caregivers face communication, financial, medication management, and transportation challenges in caring for elderly relatives at home. It also highlighted several key support needs of family caregivers in the care of elderly relatives at home. These includes financial assistance, training, access to information, and support from healthcare professionals. Qualitative research, by its nature, is subjective as it relies on the perceptions and interpretations of the participants. Moreover, in qualitative studies, researchers typically work with a limited number of participants, in qualitative studies, researchers typically work with a limited number of participants, resulting in conclusions that may not reflect the experiences of all family caregivers. This qualitative study underscored the multitude of challenges faced by family caregivers in their role as primary caregivers for elderly relatives. The research also highlighted the pressing need for support systems that would address the physical, emotional, financial, and informational needs of these caregivers.

P120: Peer groups that support the mental health of older adults

The City of Helsinki provides peer support groups for older adults with substance abuse or mental health issues: For older adults with substance abuse issues (14 meetings)For elderly relatives, friends and family members of people with substance abuse issues (12 meetings)For older adults with depression symptoms (12 meetings)For older adults who have lost a loved one (8 meetings)Peer support groups meet once a week at senior centres and are led by social instructors. The maximum group size is limited to ten people. Group instructors have manuals to guide their work, and attendees follow group-specific assignment books. The first three groups listed above stem from cognitive methods, and the group for those who have lost a loved one stems from a meaning-centred approach.Before the group’s first get-together, instructors meet all potential group members in person to ensure that joining the activity is a suitable and beneficial option for them. Although the groups have different discussion topics and assignments, all are primarily based on openness and peer support. Two months after the group’s last get-together, members will meet up again, and the instructors will assess whether someone needs extra support and refer them onward.Overall, feedback on the peer support groups has been positive. Attendees feel participating has brought change to their lives, and many reported reduced alcohol consumption and improved mood. In their feedback, attendees gave thanks to interesting discussion themes, an open and trusting atmosphere and the importance of being able to communicate with peers of the same age.Peer support groups are a cost-effective and functional way to support the mental health of older adults, especially in the early detection and prevention of more severe problems.

What Is Alzheimer’s Disease?

A significant proportion of our aging society suffers from Alzheimer’s disease (AD). AD is a disorder that changes the brain tissue and slowly destroys several important parts of the brain responsible for memory, thinking, and communication skills. Over time, patients’ forgetfulness increases, and they need more care to carry out even the simplest tasks—such as eating, drinking, or self-hygiene. This can create extremely challenging living conditions for their families. Many children witness how their beloved grandparents or other elderly relatives change, forget things, and eventually do not recognize them or confuse them with their parents. Watching family members progress through the stages of Alzheimer’s disease can be a challenging, painful, and even frightening experience for young people. The aim of this article is to explain Alzheimer’s disease, its symptoms, and its consequences to help young people understand and cope with this disease if it happens in their families.

The characteristics of elderly citizen of perceiving communication effects of issues of formation of healthy life-style

The article discusses results of communication effects of various information actors on elderly citizen stimulating healthy life-style. The purpose of the study was to establish characteristics of perception by elderly Russians communication effects targeting formation and maintenance of healthy life-style, to determine degree of significance of communication channels by which such measures can provide high degree of individual motivation. The contradiction was established. From one hand, life span increases due to achievements of science, medicine and technologies promoting decreasing diseases' mortality and improving health indicators.From the other hand, the need in larger volume of caring services at lesser number of professional personnel providing social care and medical personnel comes up. It is established that age principle is one of the basic ones in segmentation of health state. According it, population of elderly age consists of several main groups having different social characteristics concerning conditions of life, medical indications, consumer behavior and information perception. The elderly pre-retired, elderly relatives, early retired, socially active retired. It is concluded that communication impact on elderly citizens concerning formation of healthy lifestyle and promotion of health saving practices are to be implemented considering specifics of particular communication channels (both interpersonal and mass ones). It is recommended in planning and implementing socially-oriented marketing and educational campaign not only to segment target audiences of senior citizens, but to evaluate degree of significance of communication channels for each of them.

Promoting Women's Well-Being: A Systematic Review of Protective Factors for Work-Family Conflict.

Work-family conflict is a prominent issue, especially in our society, where people are expected to fulfil many roles simultaneously. Work and family life demands significantly impact an individual's overall well-being, especially for women, since they typically balance caregiving for children and elderly relatives with careers. Therefore, highlighting which factors might protect women from experiencing work-family conflict is essential to enhance women's and their family's well-being. Thus, the main aim of the present study was to systematically review previous research on women's coping strategies and protective factors which can reduce the negative effects of work-family conflict. Following the PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a literature search of three databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, and Scopus). After the screening and the eligibility phases, we included a final set of 13 studies. Most of these studies adopted a cross-sectional design (N = 10), and a few adopted a longitudinal one (N = 3). Results highlighted the role of different personal (e.g., hardiness, self-esteem, locus of control) and relational factors (e.g., family and work support) that significantly reduce the negative effects of work-family conflict in women's lives. Findings, practical implications, and future research directions are discussed.

The synthesis of documentary and fictional codes in the story “Superpowers by inheritance: My Soviet Grandfathers” by O. Kolpakova

The article studies the mechanisms of interaction between documentary and fictional codes in O. Kolpakova’s work “Superpowers by Inheritance: My Soviet Grandfathers”, considered here as a translator of intergenerational ties. The author focuses on establishing the place of the family in the history of the country in different eras, which correlates with the purpose of our study – to determine the nature of the connection between non-fiction and fiction, past and present, which are presented in the story both in a dialogic unity and in opposition. The article concludes that the complex narrative organization of the work reflects the authorial concept of family history, allowing her not only to introduce the reader to the cultural and historical realities of a particular era, which is facilitated by the popular science commentary inserts by Ivan Privalov, but also to transmit the cultural codes that form the identity of the Russians (family, historical memory, respect for elders, love for one’s country and our homeland). The analysis shows that the dialectical relation between non-fiction and fiction is realized through the motif of “stories”, the conversation with the elder relatives is organized in accordance with the narrative models of Soviet literature, which makes an organic synthesis of non-fiction and fiction possible and does not presuppose a linear unfolding of the narrative. The article analyzes the ways of representation of the documentary in the story. The superpower motif, in the author’s opinion, enables her to reach the level of mythopoetic modelling of the national cultural code, which represents traditional values in the formulas that are topical for modern teenagers.

Consumers' Attitude towards Supermarket and Proximity Stores as Purchasing Outlets of Italian Potato Consumers.

World potato consumption has fallen. Similarly, Italian consumers are buying fewer potatoes, despite the high number of certified quality and innovative potatoes being produced. Moreover, Italian consumers' knowledge of potato characteristics and innovations tends to be limited. To increase consumer engagement and revitalize the market, strategic marketing efforts need to be implemented by addressing the different characteristics of consumers in the different purchase channels. The aim of this study is to explore and differentiate consumer purchasing behavior and attitudes towards potatoes in supermarkets and neighborhood channels. The study collected 855 responses through an online survey. Data processing included the creation of indices of consumers' knowledge of potato nutrition and their propensity to innovate, as well as logistic regression to analyze the determinants of potato-purchasing behavior. The results show that consumers with increased potato consumption, a higher level of education, and employment prefer to buy potatoes in the supermarket. A preference for potato innovation also increases the likelihood that consumers will buy potatoes in supermarkets. Conversely, consumers with elderly relatives at home and a low level of education, but a high level of knowledge about the nutritional properties of potatoes, prefer to shop through neighborhood channels.

Anomaly Detection for Human Home Activities Using Pattern Based Sequence Classification

In most countries, the old-age people population continues to rise. Because young adults are busy with their work engagements, they have to let the elderly stay at home alone. This is quite dangerous, as accidents at home may happen anytime without anyone knowing. Although sending elderly relatives to an elderly care center or hiring a caregiver are good solutions, they may not be feasible since it may be too expensive over a long-term period. The behavior patterns of elderly people during daily activities can give hints about their health condition. If an abnormal behavior pattern can be detected in advance, then precautions can be taken at an early stage. Previous studies have suggested machine learning techniques for such anomaly detection but most of the techniques are complicated. In this paper, a simple model for detecting anomaly patterns in human activity sequences using Random forest (RF) and K-nearest neighbor (KNN) classifiers is presented. The model was implemented on a public dataset and it showed that the RF classifier performed better, with an accuracy of 85%, compared to the KNN classifier, which achieved 73%.

Care Burden of Family Caregivers of Elderly Relatives with Breast Cancer in the Asian Culture: Integrative Review

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer and a major cause of death in elderly women. In Asia, the roles and responsibilities of family caregivers of elderly relatives with breast cancer vary across cultural and social contexts, but the care burden and its impacts on caregivers’ quality of life have been reported globally. Therefore, this review aims to summarize existing evidence of the care burden and experiences of family caregivers caring for elderly relatives with breast cancer in Asian cultures. This integrative review used databases, including MEDLINE, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and Scopus, to conduct a comprehensive search of all studies published in English between 1994 and 2016 in relation to the topic at hand, yielding 322 articles, eight of which met the eligibility criteria and were included in the review. Three domains of the care burden, including physical, psychological, and financial, were identified and reported as varying in degree across cultures. Caring for elderly patients with breast cancer in Asian cultures was found to be performed on passionate grounds involving love, sympathy, relationships, and attachments. The positive and negative experiences among family caregivers were found to be associated with cultural factors, including beliefs, social norms, traditional practices, and religion. A stronger family bond and sense of togetherness within the family were expressed as positive, whereas caring for the elderly was described as burdensome, or negative. While the caregiver role is perceived as integral to the Asian family caregiver’s life, they nonetheless experience physical, psychological, and financial burdens related to the care. Thus, the deep insight into the burden of family caregivers offered herein warrants the provision of appropriate support from health professionals to family caregivers.
 
 Abstrak
 Beban Pengasuhan Pelaku Rawat di Keluarga dalam Merawat Lansia dengan Kanker Payudara di Asia: Tinjauan Integratif. Kanker payudara adalah jenis kanker yang paling umum dan merupakan penyebab utama kematian pada perempuan lansia. Dalam konteks sosial dan budaya di Asia, peran dan tanggung jawab yang dimiliki oleh family caregiver dalam mendampingi pasien lansia dengan kanker payudara bervariasi. Meskipun demikian, beban pengasuhan dan dampaknya terhadap kualitas hidup caregiver dilaporkan dialami di seluruh dunia. Oleh karena itu, studi ini bertujuan untuk mengumpulkan bukti tentang beban pengasuhan dan pengalaman family caregiver di Asia dalam merawat kerabat lansia yang menderita kanker payudara. Tinjauan integratif ini menggunakan kumpulan data dari MEDLINE, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), dan Scopus, untuk melakukan pencarian komprehensif dari semua studi terkait topik beban family caregiver yang diterbitkan dalam bahasa Inggris antara tahun 1994 dan 2016. Pencarian komprehensif ini menemukan 322 artikel yang delapan di antaranya memenuhi kriteria kelayakan untuk ditinjau secara integratif. Identifikasi terhadap tiga domain dari beban pengasuhan; fisik, psikologis, dan keuangan, menemukan bahwa tingkat beban tersebut bervariasi antara satu budaya dan yang lainnya. Ditemukan bahwa merawat pasien lansia dengan kanker payudara dalam budaya Asia dilakukan atas dasar dorongan jiwa yang melibatkan cinta, simpati, hubungan, dan keterikatan. Pengalaman positif dan negatif yang dialami oleh family caregiver diasosiasikan dengan faktor budaya, termasuk kepercayaan, norma sosial, praktik tradisional, dan agama. Ikatan keluarga yang lebih kuat dan rasa kebersamaan dalam keluarga diekspresikan sebagai pengalaman positif, sedangkan merawat lansia digambarkan sebagai beban yang bersifat negatif. Meskipun peran sebagai pengasuh dianggap sebagai bagian yang penting dari kehidupan family caregiver di Asia, mereka tetap mengalami beban fisik, psikologis, dan keuangan. Studi ini bertujuan memberikan pengetahuan yang mendalam tentang beban family caregiver agar dapat digunakan dalam menjamin penyediaan dukungan yang tepat dari tenaga kesehatan profesional kepada family caregiver.
 Kata Kunci: beban pengasuhan; budaya Asia; family caregiver; kanker payudara; pasien lansia

Historical language use in Europe from a contrastive pragmatic perspective

Abstract This paper presents a case study which brings together the fields of contrastive pragmatics and historical pragmatics. Specifically, we contrastively investigate the ways in which the speech act set of “farewell” – representing the closing phase of an interaction – was realised in nineteenth-century historical letters in different linguacultures, including the English, German and Chinese ones. We argue that contrastive pragmatics provides a fruitful contribution to historical research for two inter-related reasons. First, contrastive pragmatics allows us to identify similar pragmatic patterns between typologicially “close” linguacultures, such as the English and the German ones. Second, it prompts researchers to attest the validity of such patterns by comparing such typologically close linguacultures with more distant ones such as the Chinese. Our study is based on a corpus of family letters written to elderly relatives.

Some Ethical and Legal Challenges in Effective Long-Term Care System Development

The Russian social protection system of recent years has been characterized by the chaotic nature of the ongoing reforms, which sometimes have the main task of solving momentary economic problems. An increase in the level of social benefits or the introduction of new ones occurs, as a rule, for the most active and dissatisfied part of the population. Thus, in 2019, under the influence of public associations of parents of disabled children, the compensation payment for this category of citizens was increased to 10,000 rubles, while the payment to caregivers for other categories of people in need (for example, elderly relatives) remained at the level of 1,200 rubles per month.The obvious lack of general principles for the provision of state aid based on ethical norms understandable to society causes discontent and distrust of the population. The paper attempts to point out the inconsistency of legislation with moral and ethical standards in the field of long-term care, identify shortcomings and develop some proposals for improving the current legislation.The author suggests the following: 1) to support the idea implemented in pilot projects of a number of subjects of the Russian Federation to endow persons caring for relatives with the status of social workers; 2) to raise the amount of payments to unemployed able-bodied caregivers to the minimum wage, since compensation payments by their nature are designed to replace missing earnings; 3) to eliminate unjustified differentiation of payments depending on the status of persons in need of care; 4) to provide for the possibility of working on a part-time basis when providing care, setting fair limits taking into account the amount of compensation payments and income received, etc.

The impact of Covid-19 pandemic on Italian surgeons: a national survey

Background: During the Covid-19 pandemic many surgeons found themselves in unfamiliar settings, trying to combine the increased workload with family duties. We hypothesized that female surgeons might have been subjected to higher stress levels and work-life tensions compared to their male counterpart. The aim of this study was to assess the psychological impact of the pandemic on Italian surgeons and investigate possible gender differences. Materials and Methods: A 47-items-questionnaire was distributed from February 7th to March 31st 2022 among Italian surgeons. Stress levels, mental health status, work-life tensions, gender equity, personal and professional satisfaction were explored. Results: A total of 869 responders were included in the analysis. Most responders were female (64%) with a median age significantly lower than the male counterparts (36 versus 45, p<0.001). The academic position was most often held by male surgeons (17%), while most of women were non-academic faculty (66%) or surgeon in-training (28%) (p<0.001). Even if male surgeons reported a higher number of dependent children and elder relatives (p<0.05), female surgeons perceived an increased burden related to their care-giving role (p=0.042). Being younger, in training and without an academic position was associated with higher stress levels, mostly occurring among women surgeons (p<0.05). Conclusions: Female surgeons, during the second peak of Covid-19 pandemic, experienced higher stress levels compared to men. Designed interventions are needed to support the female surgical workforce also in a post-pandemic setting.

The effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on STEM faculty: Productivity and work-life balance.

The disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic impacted STEM professionals in numerous ways, affecting research, teaching, publications, patents, and work-life balance. A survey was conducted to determine the changes approximately one year into the pandemic shutdown in USA. Results indicate that the quarantine, limitations, and restrictions led to decreased work productivity and increased stress, anxiety, and family obligations. There was a significant difference between male and female faculty experience with women reporting more child-care, schoolwork assistance, and care for elderly relatives.