Mask Wearing Research Articles

Effect of Skin Change Awareness Due to Mask Wearing on Home Beauty Device Selection Attributes and Purchase Intention: targeting women in their 20s

In order to find out the effect of skin change recognition due to mask wearing in this study on home beauty device selection attributes and purchase intentions, a total of 308 women in their 20s were surveyed. As a result of the current status and research on the selection attributes and purchase intentions of home beauty devices due to mask wearing, the higher the awareness of skin changes due to mask wearing, the higher the brand, quality, and price of home beauty devices. The purchase intention of home beauty devices also shows that the higher the awareness of skin changes caused by mask wearing, the higher the purchase intention of home beauty devices. As a result, it can be seen that the higher the price, quality, and brand of skin change recognition due to mask wearing, the higher the purchase intention.

Mask Wearing Fosters Relaxation and Store Engagement in an Offline‐Retail Context

ABSTRACTWearing a mask or face covering can serve not only as a health defense measure or a requirement for certain activities and rituals, but can also influence consumer purchasing behavior. This research examines whether, how, and when mask wearing fosters store engagement (e.g., higher intention to try on, longer staying time, and higher repeat patronage intention). Building on social observation and social monitoring theory, we conducted five studies and found that mask wearing leads consumers to perceive they are being observed/evaluated less and therefore to feel more relaxed; this feeling in turn leads to greater store engagement, especially for those who are high in self‐monitoring. Studies 1–3 indicate that consumers who wear (vs. not wear) masks generate higher engagement across different shopping contexts, demonstrate the proposed mechanism through serial mediation while ruling out alternative explanations, and show that being observed/evaluated less has a unique effect beyond perceived invulnerability to viruses on feelings of relaxation. Study 4 demonstrates the moderating role of self‐monitoring, such that this effect diminishes when consumers are low in self‐monitoring. Finally, Study 5 generalizes the mask‐wearing effect using a different facial covering situation. Both theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Measuring the frequency and determinants of COVID-19 prevention behaviours: a cross-sectional assessment of large-scale programmes in seven countries, late 2020

ObjectivesThis multicountry analysis aimed to assess the prevalence of key hygiene prevention behaviours and their determinants, associated with international non-governmental organisation (WaterAid) hygiene behaviour change programmes for COVID-19 prevention. The...

Mask Wearing and Childhood COVID-19: A Local Perspective.

Mask Wearing and Childhood COVID-19: A Local Perspective.

A quantitative microbial risk assessment approach to estimate exposure to SARS-CoV-2 on a bus

IntroductionWe adapt and extend the Transmission of Virus in Carriages (TVC) model, a Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) computational model originally developed to estimate exposure risk to SARS-CoV-2 in a subway carriage, to estimate exposure risk on a bus. The aim is to analyse the relative importance of different behavioural and environmental factors influencing exposure in this public transport setting, especially exposure to large doses when considering viral load variability between infectious passengers. MethodsThe QMRA model considers individual exposure during a bus journey through three routes: close-range exposure to aerosols and droplets due to being at close proximity (<2m) of an infected passenger, long-range airborne exposure at long distances (>2m), and transmission via contaminated surfaces (fomite route). ResultsModel predictions show that disease prevalence and bus loading levels have a major impact both on the likelihood of exposure and probability of receiving a large dose. Mask wearing is predicted to greatly reduce the magnitude of doses received, especially from close-range exposure. Assumptions around viral load also have a major impact on doses received, with large long-range airborne doses only occurring under very wide viral load distributions. Doses are not uniform around the bus, with close-range dose being generally more likely in the middle of the bus and fomite doses depending on the types of available surfaces around passengers’ seated/standing positions. Surface contamination is predicted to be greatest on traversal poles that may be touched by many passengers while boarding and alighting. ConclusionsThese model predictions have implications on the effectiveness of various mitigations to SARS-CoV-2 transmission on buses.

Mask Wearing Practice- First Line Defence against Communicable Diseases

Abstract not available JAFMC Bangladesh, Vol 19, No 2 (December) 2023: 1-2

Are facemasks effective against particulate matter pollution? Evidence from the field

The use of anti-pollution facemasks (APFs) in defense against particulate matter (PM) pollution is subject to debate as air pollution and wildfire events intensify. Inward leakage due to imperfect fitting and the Peltzman effect of people spending more time outdoors when wearing masks have led to mixed evidence regarding the effectiveness of APFs, which in turn has contributed to conflicting public messages about APFs with potentially large public health costs. We conduct a large-scale randomized field study on individuals' daily outdoor time and mask wearing behaviors and the associated health outcomes during an entire winter heating season in a provincial capital city in Northeastern China. We find that APFs used in everyday life achieved an overall efficiency of 80% in reducing respiratory or cardiovascular disease related doctor visits. Mask wearing, due to its discomfort, reduced outdoor time. However, the added protection provided by masks against PM led respondents to spend more time outdoors on smog days, and this relative Peltzman effect wiped out about 12% of APFs' health benefits. Taken together, APFs’ health benefits far exceed their financial costs. These findings call for affirmatory but careful messaging to the public about using APFs as personal protection against PM pollution.

Compliance with Mask Wearing, Perception of Infection Risk, and Knowledge related to COVID-19 after The COVID-19 Pandemic

Compliance with Mask Wearing, Perception of Infection Risk, and Knowledge related to COVID-19 after The COVID-19 Pandemic

Public Health Evaluation of COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptability and Health Behaviors in South Africa: Past, Current, and Future Implications (2020–2022)

South Africa is facing a high burden of COVID-19 pandemic with low-vaccine coverage in the African Region. We aimed to investigate the temporal changes and impacts in health behaviors on vaccine acceptability in pre-, during-, and post-vaccine roll-out periods. In this cross-sectional study, we used the combined data from the nationally conducted “COVID-19 Vaccine Surveys (CVACS)” (May 2020–February/March 2022). Semiparametric regression models were used to capture the nonlinear association between the vaccine acceptability and health behaviors. Our study provided compelling evidence for a substantial decline in COVID-19 vaccine trust which shifted from 62%–70% to 26%–42% overtime. Participants younger than 40 years of age were less likely to receive the vaccine before it became available. However, this association changed in the postvaccine period with significant uptake in vaccine acceptance in younger groups. South Africans who identified themselves as black were more likely to intend to receive (aORs ranged: 1.93−3.60) and to trust the vaccine’s safety and efficacy (aORs ranged:1.79−1.23) in all time periods. “Mask wearing” and “frequent hand washing” were the most commonly reported behaviors. Given the lower rates of vaccine acceptability and a reduction in preventative health behaviors, monitoring the spread of infections is crucial and may have significant clinical and epidemiological implications.

A Descriptive Analytical Study to Assess the Knowledge and Practice of Proper Face Mask Wearing among Healthcare Professionals, Patients and Attendants in a Tertiary Care Center of North India

A Descriptive Analytical Study to Assess the Knowledge and Practice of Proper Face Mask Wearing among Healthcare Professionals, Patients and Attendants in a Tertiary Care Center of North India

Mask Wearing Detection for Printing Shop Workers based on Improved YOLOv5

Mask Wearing Detection for Printing Shop Workers based on Improved YOLOv5

Face masks and fake masks: the effect of real and superimposed masks on face matching with super-recognisers, typical observers, and algorithms.

Mask wearing has been required in various settings since the outbreak of COVID-19, and research has shown that identity judgements are difficult for faces wearing masks. To date, however, the majority of experiments on face identification with masked faces tested humans and computer algorithms using images with superimposed masks rather than images of people wearing real face coverings. In three experiments we test humans (control participants and super-recognisers) and algorithms with images showing different types of face coverings. In all experiments we tested matching concealed or unconcealed faces to an unconcealed reference image, and we found a consistent decrease in face matching accuracy with masked compared to unconcealed faces. In Experiment 1, typical human observers were most accurate at face matching with unconcealed images, and poorer for three different types of superimposed mask conditions. In Experiment 2, we tested both typical observers and super-recognisers with superimposed and real face masks, and found that performance was poorer for real compared to superimposed masks. The same pattern was observed in Experiment 3 with algorithms. Our results highlight the importance of testing both humans and algorithms with real face masks, as using only superimposed masks may underestimate their detrimental effect on face identification.

Working with a Mask: How and When Workplace Mask Wearing Decreases Employee Emotional Exhaustion

AbstractDespite the salutary effects of mask wearing broadly recognized during the COVID-19 pandemic, little is known about the consequences of wearing masks in the workplace. The current research raises the question of whether and how mask wearing may impact employees' emotional well-being at work. Drawing on emotion regulation theory (e.g., Gross, 1998, 2015), we propose that mask wearing enables employees to adopt more authentic emotional displays, which in turn decreases emotional exhaustion. Furthermore, guided by the social interaction model of emotion regulation (Coté, 2005), we further posit that for employees whose work requires more frequent face-to-face interaction, the positive impact of mask wearing on emotional exhaustion becomes more significant. Across a pilot study and a three-wave field survey, we find support for this hypothesized model. Implications of these findings for future theorizing and research on mask wearing are discussed.

Political Party Collective Norms, Perceived Norms, and Mask Wearing Behavior: A Test of the Theory of Normative Social Behavior

ABSTRACT The theory of normative social behavior (TNSB) postulates that people are influenced by others’ behaviors, which they observe from messages and experience. In addition to focusing on perceived (i.e., descriptive and injunctive) norms, the TNSB was expanded to include collective norms, which represent what people actually do. Testing this expanded theoretical model, the current study examined whether two types of collective norms – collective political norms and collective regional norms – interacted with descriptive norms to influence pandemic mask wearing behavior expectations among U.S. adults (N = 444). The interaction was statistically significant for collective political norms (β = -.74, p = .009) but not collective regional norms (β = -.16, p = .85). Specifically, descriptive norms were related to increased mask wearing expectation for all values of political party collective norms, but the effects were stronger when political party collective norms were low (i.e., low mask wearing behavior was normative). The findings support the inclusion of collective norms in the TNSB, clarify the relationships among different types of norms, and provide insights for norms-based interventions.

Impacts of Mask Wearing and Leakages on Cyclic Respiratory Flows and Facial Thermoregulation

Elevated face temperature due to mask wearing can cause discomfort and skin irritation, making mask mandates challenging. When thermal discomfort becomes intolerable, individuals instinctively or unknowingly loosen or remove their facemasks, compromising the mask’s protective efficacy. The objective of this study was to numerically quantify the microclimate under the mask and facial thermoregulation when wearing a surgical mask with different levels of misfit. An integrated ambient–mask–face–airway computational model was developed with gaps of varying sizes and locations and was validated against complementary experiments. The low Reynolds number (LRN) k-ω turbulence model with porous media was used to simulate transient respiratory flows. Both skin convective heat transfer and tissue heat generation were considered in thermoregulation under the facemask, besides the warm air exhaled from the body and the cool air inhaled from the ambient. The results of this study showed that when wearing a surgical mask with a perfect fit under normal breathing, the temperature at the philtrum increased by 4.3 °C compared to not wearing a mask. A small gap measuring 0.51 cm2 (gap A) at the nose top resulted in 5.6% leakage but reduced the warming effect by 28% compared to zero gap. Meanwhile, a gap of 4.3 cm2 (R1L1) caused 42% leakage and a 62% reduction in the warming effect. Unique temporospatial temperature profiles were observed at various sampling points and for different gap sizes, which correlated reasonably with the corresponding flow dynamics, particularly close to the gaps. The temperature change rate also exhibited patterns unique to the gap site and sampling point, with distinctive peaks occurring during the inspiratory–expiratory flow transitions. These results have the significant implications that by using the temporospatial temperature profiles at several landmark points, the gap location can potentially be pinpointed, and the gap size and leakage fractions can be quantified.

Perceptions and behavioral traits of mask usage during covid-19 pandemic–a cross sectional study from Kerala

Background: The first reported case of COVID in all of India was in Thrissur, Kerala. Kerala was one among the states which had high recovery rate, low death rate and slow progression which was recognized internationally in managing and controlling the COVID-19 pandemic. For efficient control of transmission of COVID 19, mask wearing was considered as primary and popular measure. Wearing mask everytime can cause discomfort and prolonged mask usage can lead to many health impacts. Mask wearing can be made comfortable and convenient, if the discomforts and health impacts of wearing mask are worked on in future. Objective: To study perceptions and behavioural traits related to mask usage in general population of Kerala, India. Methods: An online cross sectional study was conducted in Kerala among 291 adults aged 20 to 60 years with a validated questionnaire. Data was analysed with Pearson’s Chi square and Odds ratio. Results: Majority of the participants were self-motivated, though 90% of participants reported mild discomforts, yet more than 80% were inclined to proper mask wearing practice. Among the participants, 77% washed and reused masks, more than 49% changed their face touching behavior, 67 % were inspired by family and friends in wearing mask. Older participants (greater than 40 years) had higher knowledge level of mask use (98%) and wearing masks outdoors (92.8%), lesser preference for N95 mask and double mask compared to younger participants. Conclusion: Study reinforces hypothesis of mask use efficacy in controlling and reducing pandemic spread. Community perceptions and behavioural traits study can enhance planning and implementation of public health programs.

Nurses' Experiences of Prolonged Mask Wearing in the Context of COVID-19

Nurses' Experiences of Prolonged Mask Wearing in the Context of COVID-19

Habitual Mask Wearing as Part of COVID-19 Control in Japan: An Assessment Using the Self-Report Habit Index.

Although the Japanese government removed mask-wearing requirements in 2023, relatively high rates of mask wearing have continued in Japan. We aimed to assess psychological reasons and the strength of habitual mask wearing in Japan. An Internet-based cross-sectional survey was conducted with non-random participant recruitment. We explored the frequency of mask usage, investigating psychological reasons for wearing masks. A regression analysis examined the association between psychological reasons and the frequency of mask wearing. The habitual use of masks was assessed in the participant's most frequently visited indoor space and public transport using the self-report habit index. The principal component analysis with varimax rotation revealed distinct habitual characteristics. Among the 2640 participants surveyed from 6 to 9 February 2023, only 4.9% reported not wearing masks at all. Conformity to social norms was the most important reason for masks. Participants exhibited a slightly higher degree of habituation towards mask wearing on public transport compared to indoor spaces. The mask-wearing rate was higher in females than in males, and no significant difference was identified by age group. Daily mask wearing in indoor spaces was characterized by two traits (automaticity and behavioral frequency). A high mask-wearing frequency has been maintained in Japan during the social reopening transition period. Mask wearing has become a part of daily habit, especially on public transport, largely driven by automatic and frequent practice.

The Role of Faster R-CNN Algorithm in the Internet of Things to Detect Mask Wearing: The Endemic Preparations

The Role of Faster R-CNN Algorithm in the Internet of Things to Detect Mask Wearing: The Endemic Preparations

Strong Social Ties and Adherence to Face Mask Wearing in COVID-19 Pandemic in Dagestan, North Caucasus

Strong Social Ties and Adherence to Face Mask Wearing in COVID-19 Pandemic in Dagestan, North Caucasus