Life Perception Research Articles

Human dignity as the highest value in the globalized world

Today, when we talk about globalization, we see how the connection of time has broken at the intersection of two eras. Technologies of the 20th century gave birth to a new perception of life, which became more intense, brighter, more dynamic. Scientific discoveries and inventions: telephone, telegraph, gramophone record, radio, aviation, cinema – all these technical innovations changed the essence of human existence. At the same time, the 20th century contributed to the decline of moral values and human spirituality, which often led to social contradictions and conflicts. In the conditions of the global world, these transformations are influenced by various negative factors: totalitarian regimes, mass murders of people, racist and Nazi ideologies, as well as political systems built on them, human humiliation, contempt for universal values, and therefore denial of human dignity. Scientists associate this process with the destruction of the human in a person, with negative changes in the spiritual world of a person. The person himself has changed, his values have been reevaluated, but a person has no choice: he must remain a person, showing his dignity. In the modern conditions of globalization processes, the study of human dignity is a significant challenge for Ukrainian jurisprudence, since the need to protect it is embedded in one of the main principles of international law – respect for human rights. The article examines the peculiarities of the influence of today’s globalization processes on a person, his dignity and rights. The meaning of the concept of “dignity” as the highest social value of a person is revealed. An analysis of various approaches to understanding the concept of “human dignity” was carried out. The main focus is on the moral foundations of the development of the human personality, including the provision of personal dignity. The content of the provisions of the Constitution of Ukraine and international normative legal acts, which ensure the right to human dignity, is disclosed. The essence of human dignity due to its value in society as an integral feature of the social state is defined. Attention is focused on the fact that the right to respect for human dignity acquires special importance in the context of the welfare state, as it is the basis of human social rights. Providing a person with a decent standard of living depends on the practical implementation of these rights.

POETICS OF UKRAINIAN MUSICAL FOLKLORE

The article will determine the peculiarities of the poetics of Ukrainian musical folklore as a source of popular perception of history and everyday life, necessary for transmission to the next generation. The study showed that the song images of history and everyday life created by the people are endowed with high artistic qualities and documentary persuasiveness, which makes them effective translators of the wisdom of ancestors to future generations. The research was done sequentially. Based on the study of special literature, it was found that in musical ethnography the term «poetics» came from literary studies and was initially applied to the phenomena of professional art. The poetics of folklore began to be considered from the 19th century, and at the present time it has become very extensive. Poetics can refer to certain genera, genres of folklore, typical images. Peculiarities of the poetics of Ukrainian musical folklore lie in the informational capacity of verbal texts, the emotionality of which is enhanced by music. The poetics of folklore tends towards generalization. Reality is depicted as a historical or everyday background against which the activities of idealized heroes unfold.

Sympathizing with Gen-Z: Reflections of Social Media Culture in TikTok

Social media, which has become more essential in people's lives over the last two decades, on the one hand, creates a new social condition, a digital society, and on the other, changes people's everyday lives to a large extent. Social media deepens an intergenerational conflict between the young people who grew up with it, commonly referred to as the Z-generation, and the older generations, who are struggling to adapt to this new situation. As a reflection of this situation of conflict, bias towards younger generations occupies an important place in a significant part of the studies on social media. In these studies, young people are often portrayed as actors who, by all means, are permissible to become famous, pragmatists, and corrupt the moral values of society. Emerging as a critique of such approaches, this study tries to comprehend the new social condition created by social media. The study is based on a nethnographic analysis of the 58 highest-rated videos shot under the Buss It Challenge, which became a trend among young people on TikTok in early 2021. The study, on the one hand, reveals young people's perceptions of the ideal life and ideal body; on the other hand, it questions the projections of intercultural and gender differences in such videos. As a result, the study claims that an understanding of fame based on the sexualization of the female body, which is an important component of social media culture, is significantly shaped by neoliberal and patriarchal expectations, and social media alters the perception of time and space, which in turn reshapes the private and the public.

Life satisfaction and occupational safety relationship: Research on motorcycle couriers in Turkey

Objectives Rising e-commerce trend with Covid-19 pandemic has significantly increased the need for motorcycle-couriers. The aim of this research was to investigate the relationship between job satisfaction and occupational safety and health (OSH) of motorcycle-couriers and to evaluate the opinions of OSH specialists about the importance of motorcycle-couriers’ life satisfaction and OSH perception levels. Methods The relationship between life satisfaction and perception of OSH of 750 motorcycle-couriers was addressed using quantitative research methods through two different scales (Life Satisfaction Scale and Occupational Safety Perception Scale). The views of 20 OSH specialists about the importance of motorcycle-couriers’ perception of life satisfaction and OSH levels were addressed using qualitative research methods. Results There was a negative linear relationship between perception of OSH and life satisfaction levels of motorcycle-couriers. All OSH specialists evaluated the level of life satisfaction as an important factor in OSH practice of motorcycle-couriers and all were of the opinion that the job was quite risky and adequate OSH measures were not sufficiently guaranteed. Conclusions The findings suggest that there is a need for some legal regulation of this occupation and ensuring necessary occupational standards are applied. This could include increased responsibility of companies/employers and could provide training programs to improve OSH.

Dental aesthetic perception of patients submitted to activated charcoal-based bleaching agents: A randomized clinical trial

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of activated charcoal-based products used in two presentation forms (powder or toothpaste), compared to 10 % carbamide peroxide and conventional toothpaste on aesthetic perception and psychosocial impact before and after treatment. MethodsFifty-six participants were divided into 4 experimental groups (n = 14). Activated charcoal-based powder (PW); Activated charcoal-based dentifrice (AC); Conventional fluoride toothpaste (CD) and 10 % carbamide peroxide (CP). All products were used for 14 days. Psychosocial impact on dental esthetics (PIDAQ), oral health impact profile (OHIP- Esthetics) and orofacial esthetics scale (OES) questionnaires were applied before and after treatment. Descriptive and exploratory data analyses were performed and analyzed using linear mixed models for repeated measures over time considering significance level of α = 0.05. ResultsFor PIDAQ, the CP group showed significant decrease in psychological impact, aesthetic perception domains and overall score, while in the PW group, there was only a significant decrease in the psychological impact domain. Decrease in OHIP was observed for the functional limitation domain scores for treatments with CP and PW, in the psychological discomfort domain, decrease was observed for all groups, while for the OES questionnaire, significant increase in the color domain was observed for the CP group. ConclusionActivated charcoal-based products showed lower scores in all questionnaires when compared with carbamide peroxide; thus, charcoal-based products promoted lower impact on quality of life and aesthetic perception. Clinical relevanceIn this randomized clinical trial, charcoal-based OTC products had inferior quality of life and aesthetic perception results compared to conventional carbamide peroxide bleaching.

Relationship between Optimism, Self-Efficacy and Quality of Life: A Cross-Sectional Study in Elderly People with Knee Osteoarthritis.

Due to the presence of numerous problems in osteoarthritis, e.g., the presence of one or more chronic diseases, reduced self-esteem and reduced ability to cope, patients must undertake readaptation activities. In such circumstances, resources that are necessary for optimal adaptation become of particular importance. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the impact of behavioral resources, namely self-efficacy and optimism, on quality of life perception in early-old-age patients with knee osteoarthritis. An anonymous survey was conducted using recognized research tools: the Index of Severity for Knee Disease, Life Orientation Test, General Self-Efficacy Scale and World Health Organization Quality of Life BEFF. The study involved 300 people aged between 60 and 75 years old, including 150 patients diagnosed with gonarthrosis and 150 people without diagnosed joint and muscular diseases of the lower limbs. Non-parametric tests (e.g., Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Spearman's correlation coefficient) were used for the statistical analysis of the results, assuming a significance level of p < 0.05. The level of the examined personal resources was significantly lower in the group of people with gonarthrosis (p < 0.001), among whom low self-efficacy and a tendency toward pessimism prevailed. The results in terms of the level of lower limb joints impairment among the respondents correlated significantly and negatively with self-efficacy (r = -0.239; p = 0.003) and dispositional optimism (r = -0.318; p < 0.001). A higher level of the studied psychosocial resources led to a more favorable assessment of quality of life (p < 0.001) and own health (p < 0.001). In addition, a higher sense of self-competence was associated with better quality of life in the psychological (p = 0.044), social (p < 0.001) and environmental (p < 0.001) domains, while a tendency toward optimism was associated with higher quality of life perception in the social domain (p < 0.001). It would seem to be reasonable to introduce a routine diagnosis, assessing the level of personal capabilities of elderly people with knee osteoarthritis, which may have a beneficial effect on their perception of their quality of life and their own health.

An Exploration of Quality of Life Perceptions of Cochlear Implant Recipients and Their Frequent Communication Partners

Purpose: Quality of life (QoL) after cochlear implantation has been investigated using a variety of QoL questionnaires. However, few studies have examined the perceived QoL of cochlear implant (CI) recipients compared between the recipient and a frequent communication partner (FCP) using both hearing-related (hearing-specific) and health-general (health-general) measures. Method: For this multiple case study, five participant pairs were recruited, consisting of five adult recipients who were implanted at least 6 months prior to the time of evaluation and five adult FCPs who lived with the recipient at the time of evaluation. All 10 participants (five pairs) completed a health-general questionnaire (Medical Outcome Study Short-Form Survey 12-Item [SF-12]), and eight participants (four pairs) completed a disease specific questionnaire (Nijmegen Cochlear Implant Questionnaire [NCIQ]). Results: Both recipients and partners tended to score similarly to each other on both measures. However, both groups scored higher on the SF-12 than the NCIQ. Results also revealed a better interrater agreement between pairs on the SF-12 compared to the NCIQ. Conclusions: Overall, scores for recipients and partners were higher for the health-general SF-12 compared to the hearing-related NCIQ. Additionally, rater agreement was better for the SF-12 compared to the NCIQ, suggesting that differences in QoL perceptions exist for more hearing-specific challenges. These results highlight potential differences in perception of recipient QoL postimplantation as illustrated through the use of multiple QoL measures. Results speak to the importance of open communication between recipients and partners.

Generation Z's perceptions of a good life beyond consumerism: Insights from the United States and Finland

AbstractThis paper examines Generation Z consumers' perceptions of a good life beyond consumerism and how their perceptions and practices have evolved during crises and the cultural context in which they live. We present a unique theoretical and empirical cross‐cultural investigation which focuses on the ecological crisis and COVID‐19 pandemic, and the changes they have caused to Gen Zs' daily lives in the United States (California) and Finland. Two large qualitative data sets were collected through focus group interviews and open‐ and closed‐ended surveys before and during COVID‐19 and analyzed via the PERMA framework. Findings revealed that Gen Zs' pathways that lead to a good life include: healthy behaviors and balance; positive and meaningful relationships; happiness and positivity; meaningful things; productivity and goals; and daily routines. Findings also indicated that since COVID‐19, Gen Zs are increasingly shifting toward virtuous behaviors and eudaimonic‐oriented life, in which moderation, meaningfulness, and self‐realization play key roles. Gen Zs are characterized as a global consumer cohort and a driver of change for a sustainable future, thus understanding how these future professionals, leaders, and mainstream consumers perceive a good life provides theoretical and practical insights into how to provide ecologically sustainable well‐being for nature and future generations.

Bioengineered Living Entities in Art: Aliveness, Duration, and Movement in Bricolage

Abstract Bricolage is a kinetic biological artwork first exhibited at the Perth International Arts Festival in 2020. The artists used stem cell technologies to create bioengineered living entities from donated human heart muscle cells. These living entities are suspended in an incubator from the ceiling and are made visible to gallerygoers, who watch the performance of cells generating and moving independently. This paper considers how the assemblage, animation, and performance of cells embedded in Bricolage highlight questions around the conceptualizations and perceptions of life, duration, animation, and aliveness.

Effect of research participation versus usual clinical care in patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal disorders: a prospective cohort study

ObjectiveTo compare illness perception (IP), pain, functional level and health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) between patients with musculoskeletal pain who participate versus those who do not participate in clinical research...

Perception of Identity and Religious Life in Youth: The Case of Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University Faculty of Theology

Kimlik, bireyin kim olduğu hakkında kendisine sorduğu soruların cevabıdır. Bu cevabın süreklilik, bütünlük ve tutarlılık içeren bir yapıda olması kimlik inşasının temel niteliğidir. Kimlik edinmek, önemli psikolojik ihtiyaçlardan birisidir. Bu terimi psikolojiye kazandıran kişi olarak Erik Ericson pek çok kimlik teorisine temel teşkil etmiştir. Ergenlik döneminde kendisini ciddi şekilde hissettiren kimlik arayışı, yetişkinlikte dengeli ve sürdürülebilir bir kimlik duygusunun temelini oluşturur. Kimlik duygusu, bireyin şahsi gerçeklik içinde kendisini tanımlamasına imkân sağlamaktadır. Öznel ve doğal bir kimlik algısı oluşturmakla birey hayat amacı ile ilgili sağlam bir bilgiye sahip olmuş olmaktadır. Bireysel kimliğin yanında kişi içinde yaşadığı toplumun milli, siyasi, dini, ekonomik değer yargılarını da içselleştirmeye dönük bir yönelim içine girer. Bu yönelim, kazanılmış kimlikleri ortaya çıkarır. Kazanılmış kimliklerin oluşturduğu koşullar, bir takım kalıp ve kategoriler meydana getirir. Kimlik psikoloji, sosyoloji ve sosyal psikolojide çalışılan önemli konulardan birisidir. Birey ve gruplar için kimlik inşası üzerine sosyal bilimsel zeminde pek çok araştırma yapılmasına rağmen kimlik algısında dinin rolü üzerine az sayıda araştırma bulunmaktadır. Bu çalışmada, gençlerde kimlik algısı ve dini hayat arası ilişkinin ele alınması amaçlanmaktadır. Bu bağlamda gençlerin kendileri için geliştirdiği şahsi gerçeklik olarak kimliğin inşası, dini kimliğin gençlerin yaşamına etkileri ve kimlik algısının dinden ne kadar etkilendiği karşılıklı ilişki yaklaşımı içinde incelenmektedir. Nitel araştırma yöntemi takip edilerek gerçekleştirilmiş olan bu çalışmada, Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt Üniversitesi İslami İlimler Fakültesi’nde lisans seviyesinde eğitim alan 10 kız ve 10 erkek öğrenciden mülakat tekniği ile veri toplanmıştır. Görüşme sırasında 2 katılımcı görüşmeden çekilmek istediğini belirttiği için 18 katılımcının verdiği cevaplar değerlendirmeye alınmıştır. Katılımcıların verdiği cevaplar içerik analizi ile incelenmiş ve bulgular bilimsel açıdan yorumlanmıştır. Katılımcıların bireysel ve durumsal kimlik algılarına bakıldığında, gençlerin daha önce kendileriyle ilgili bir farkındalıklarının olmadığı göze çarpan ilk unsurdur. Katılımcılardan sadece dördü kendilerini milli ve manevi kimlik üzerinden tanımlarken bir katılımcı da kendisini dini bir grup üzerinden tanımlamaktadır. Din sadece bir rahatlama, kendilerini bütün bu olumsuzluklara rağmen güvende hissetme aracı olarak görülmektedir.

MEANINGFUL ACTIVITIES AND MEANING IN LIFE IN SOUTH KOREA: BASIC PSYCHOLOGICAL NEEDS SATISFACTION AS AN EXPLANATORY MECHANISM

Introduction – The self-determination theory implies that autonomy, relatedness, and competence might influence the extent to which one perceives his/her life is meaningful. In addition, we examined whether the level of engagement in meaningful activities is subject to the satisfaction of basic psychological needs, which in turn is likely to form perceptions on a meaning in life. Methods – To address these questions, we analyzed survey data that is collected from South Korean adults at the individual level in March of 2023 (N=36). I conducted t-tests and a zero-order correlation before working on the serial mediation analysis. PROCESS macro model 80 is used to analyze serial meditation mechanisms including exposures to meaningful activities, basic psychological needs satisfaction, engagements in meaningful activities, and meaning in life. Results – The serial mediation model discovers two significant paths involving that higher levels of sense of autonomy have increased perceptions on a meaningful life. Also, once individuals regularly participate in meaningful activities, a sense of relatedness is shown to be enhanced. Discussion – This research can contribute to the study of public health by suggesting that beneficial psychological effects of engagement in meaningful activities have subsequent social implications through an increased sense of belongingness. More one senses autonomy, the more likely hold meaningful life perceptions. Participation in meaningful activities has to do with an increase in a sense of relatedness. Conclusion – Autonomy has a significant direct effect on meaningful life perception, which corroborates satisfaction with autonomy plays an important role in the South Korean population’s well-being. By designing initiatives is likely to enjoy greater levels of satisfaction in a sense of relatedness, implying an improved sense of belongingness to one’s network, including their neighborhood and society. Keywords: meaningful activities, autonomy, relatedness, competence, meaning in life.

Exploring Island Resilience Through the Lived Experiences of Pacific Islands People Adapting to a Global Disruption: A Comparative Case Study in the Cook Islands and the Kingdom of Tonga

This research explored the lived experiences and perceptions of Pacific Islands’ people responding and adapting to the significant global disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The primary aim of this study was to develop a deeper understanding of the social dimensions of resilience from the perspectives of Pacific Islands’ people. While there has been growing interest in these explorations of resilience, no studies to date have explored how Pacific Islands’ communities respond and adapt to a global disruption through the lens of subjective well-being and human agency. This research addressed this using a comparative case study approach to explore the adaptive responses of people in the Cook Islands and the Kingdom of Tonga. This research used an interpretive research paradigm underpinned by a constructivist grounded theory methodology and, due to the COVID-19 travel restrictions, undertook semi-structured interviews with 25 participants in the Cook Islands and 24 participants in Tonga through the use of online video-conferencing technologies (primarily Zoom) facilitated by the development of local research partnerships. The findings indicate that the resilience of Pacific Islands people depends on their capacity to collectively act and forge networks that are simultaneously local and global, enabling the use of traditional and foreign knowledge systems in ways that support the local human capacity that enhances the self-reliance of their island societies amidst a volatile, globalised world. These insights challenge the reductionist, ahistorical, and disempowering framings of small island nations as inherently vulnerable and externally dependent by demonstrating how Pacific Islands people used various forms of situated agency and social capital to increase their bargaining power and support the social-ecological wellbeing of their communities according to their needs, interests, and priorities.

Parental perceptions of social life before and after attending a parent training program for children with complex communication needs: the ComAlong example

Parent training programs aimed at improving language outcomes for children with complex communication needs have predominantly been evaluated on child-centered outcomes and less often on the impact on social life or parental well-being. This study examined parent perceptions of social life before and after ComAlong, a group intervention providing parents with knowledge and training in responsive communication, environmental-milieu teaching strategies and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Parents (N = 467) completed questionnaires during the first and last sessions of ComAlong groups held in Sweden 2012 to 2018. Main outcome measure was change in the Social Life Scale from the Family Impact Questionnaire. Associations between this measure and demographic factors of parents and children were analyzed, along with reported change in parents’ use of AAC. Pre-post comparisons revealed small significant positive changes in perceived impact of social life following intervention. The magnitude of the positive change was larger among parents of children with non-syndromic diagnoses and parents of children with autism spectrum disorder or attention deficit hyper activity disorder (ADHD). Differences in social life impact was not associated with parents’ gender, language proficiency, age, or educational background. In conclusion, communication-focused parent training programs can have a positive impact on social family life and may thereby influence children’s participation.

Challenges and Opportunities of Implementing Differentiated Instruction amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: Insights from a Qualitative Exploration

Differentiated instruction (DI) has been introduced as a viable approach for accommodating the diverse learning needs of students in the same classroom. Despite the significant advantages attributed to this approach, it can still be a challenge for teachers to incorporate DI into practice. This study examined the lived experiences and perceptions of teachers regarding the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on their differentiation practices. Purposive sampling was used, and 40 in-service primary and secondary school teachers in Hong Kong were recruited. Hybrid thematic analysis was implemented to examine data from the semi-structured interviews carried out in both face-to-face and online formats. Drawing on the five-dimensional model of differentiation as a conceptual framework, the findings were organized into five thematic areas: (1) teaching arrangements, (2) learning environment, (3) teaching methods, (4) support materials, and (5) assessment. The perceptions of teachers, both positive and negative, regarding the impact of the pandemic on DI were categorized into sub-themes. The results indicated that while the pandemic brought about considerable obstacles for educators in practicing DI, it also opened up opportunities for new approaches to meeting the diverse needs of students.

The association between socioeconomic status and health-related quality of life among young and middle-aged maintenance hemodialysis patients: multiple mediation modeling.

To explore the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES), illness perception, social functioning, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of young and middle-aged maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients and the internal mechanism of action. A multicenter cross-sectional study. An aggregate of 332 young and middle-aged MHD patients were enrolled from hemodialysis centers in four general hospitals in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China, from June to December 2022. The questionnaires used included one for general demographic data, the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ), Social Dysfunction Screening Scale (SDSS), and the 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12). Both SES and HRQoL were negatively correlated with illness perception and social functioning, respectively. SES was positively correlated with HRQoL. Illness perception was positively correlated with social functioning. The indirect effects of illness perception and social functioning on the relationship between SES and HRQoL were 0.33 and 0.31, making up 41.06% and 38.91% of the sum. The chain indirect effect of illness perception and social functioning was 0.10, making up 12.59% of the total effect, while gender did not play a moderating role. Illness perception and social functioning may independently and accumulatively mediate the association between SES and HRQoL. Nurses should consider developing individual intervention program for young and middle-aged MHD patients with low SES, focusing on establishing targeted counseling and health education strategies corresponding to illness perception and social functioning to help patients improve their HRQoL.

Factors associated with adherence to BRCA1/2 mutation testing after oncogenetic counseling in long-surviving patients with a previous diagnosis of breast or ovarian cancer

BRCA1/2 mutations account for 5 to 10% of breast and 15% of ovarian cancers. Various guidelines on BRCA1/2 genetic counseling and testing have been issued, and the criteria have evolved over the years. Oncogenetic counseling aims to inform patients about the possibility and implications of undergoing predictive testing and risk management programs. We analyzed a cohort of 50 subjects with a previous personal history of breast or ovarian cancer who had not been tested for BRCA1/2 mutations at the time of diagnosis but were found eligible according to the most recent guidelines. All patients were offered pre-test oncogenetic counseling and BRCA1/2 genetic testing. The mean time from cancer diagnosis to genetic counseling was over 10 years. We analyzed socio-demographic and psychological parameters associated with the decision to undergo BRCA1/2 genetic testing or the reasons behind the withdrawal. Thirty-nine patients underwent BRCA1/2 genetic testing. Patients who accept the genetic test communicate more easily with family members than those who refuse. Factors associated with test refusal are having a long-term partner and having a negative perception of life. There is a trend, although not statistically significant, toward younger age at cancer diagnosis, more likely to participate in cancer screening programs (71.8% vs. 45.5%), and more likely to have daughters (63.3% vs. 37.5%) in the group that accepted the test. The offer of BRCA testing was well accepted by our study population, despite the many years since the cancer diagnosis. With the perspective of further broadening the access criteria to genetic testing, it is important to understand how to best approach pre-test counseling in long-surviving patients with a previous diagnosis of cancer.

Living with Transthyretin-Related Familial Amyloid Polyneuropathy—TTR-FAP: Generativity, Satisfaction with Life and Health Perception in Older Affected Individuals

Living with Transthyretin-Related Familial Amyloid Polyneuropathy—TTR-FAP: Generativity, Satisfaction with Life and Health Perception in Older Affected Individuals

Plight of migrant construction-site workers during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020: A qualitative exploration in Bhavnagar, Western India.

During the unexpected lockdown implemented in early 2020 in reaction to the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, a considerable section of India's population of migrant construction-site workers were stuck. Our objective was to explore the lived experiences and consequent perceptions of migrant workers related to the COVID-19 lockdown and the consequences on their lives. We conducted structured in-depth interviews (IDIs) with twelve migrant construction-site workers in Bhavnagar, Western India, from November to December 2020, using qualitative research methods. All IDIs were conducted with participant's consent, audio-recorded, transcribed in English, inductively coded, and thematically analyzed. The primary financial challenges mentioned by the migrant workers in the interviews were unemployment, monetary issues, and a difficult sustenance. The social concerns were described as anxious migrant exodus, discrimination, mistreatment, lack of social assistance, inability to fulfil their family's expectations, lack of safe transportation arrangements by the authorities during the exodus, inadequacies in the public distribution system, law and order, and apathy of their employers. The psychological repercussions were described using terms like "fear," "worry," "loneliness," "boredom," "helplessness," and "trapped." Monetary compensation, job opportunities at the native place, and a well-managed migrant exodus were reportedly their key expectations from the government. Healthcare issues mentioned during the lockdown included a lack of facilities to treat common ailments, substandard care, and repeated COVID-19 testing prior to departure. The study highlights the need to have rehabilitation mechanisms such as targeted cash transfers, ration kits, and safe transportation services for migrant workers through inter-sectoral coordination for mitigating hardship.

Perceptions of everyday life during lenient COVID-19 restrictions in Sweden- an interview study

BackgroundBoth COVID-19 and its associated societal restrictions have affected individuals’ health and everyday life. In Sweden, more lenient public health restrictions were implemented, with individuals asked to act responsibly in terms of reducing spread of disease. The majority of studies reporting on experiences of Covid-19 restrictions have been in the context of more substantial mandatory rules aimed at reducing social contact, therefore it is important to describe how more lenient restrictions have impacted individuals’ well-being. This study aims to describe perceptions of everyday life during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, perceived by individuals with no underlying medical condition, and living with more lenient public health restrictions in Sweden.MethodThe participants were recruited from individuals who originally had participated in an online survey about life satisfaction, health, and physical activity. Fifteen individuals (median age 49, range 26–76 years, seven women) in various social situations, such as living alone/cohabiting, having children at home, geographical area and size of city were interviewed. Qualitative content analysis was applied to the data.ResultsAn overall theme “Both hindrances and opportunities in important life domains were experienced within the same person during lenient Covid-19 restrictions” was derived and covered three categories: “New possibilities of flexibility in work and better health”, “Life went on as usual with minor adjustments” and “Everyday life changed and became more difficult” together with eight subcategories. For most participants, both facilitating and hindering important domains in life were described. Unexpected findings were positive experiences regarding working from home, physical activities, leisure time activities and the balance between work and leisure time. In areas where only minor adjustments were made, life was perceived as going on as before. On the other hand, restrictions increased worries and were perceived to have negative effects on social participation.ConclusionThe impact of the pandemic and lenient restrictions in Sweden on the participants´ everyday life was multifaceted. Both hindrances and opportunities in important life domains were experienced within the same person. An increased flexibility in work- and leisure activities were perceived having positive effects for health and wellbeing and led to a better balance in life.