Disruption Of Routines Research Articles

The roles of COVID-19-related resource losses and coping processes in psychological distress among parents of children with special educational needs in Hong Kong: a conservation of resources approach

There are more than 57,000 children with special educational needs (SEN) in Hong Kong. Subject to multiple aspects of stressors during the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., school closures, disruptions of daily routines), parents of children with SEN are at-risk of poorer psychological well-being. Studies have suggested that perceived resource loss in different aspects due to COVID-19, coping resources (e.g. family communication, parenting self-efficacy), and coping strategies (e.g., acceptance) are associated with psychological outcomes among Western parents of children with SEN; relevant local studies are limited. Guided by the Conservation of Resource Theory, this study examined the factors associated with psychological distress among parents of children with SEN shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong. Parents of children with SEN in Hong Kong (N = 150) were recruited between February and March 2023 from online forums to complete a cross-sectional survey measuring their sociodemographic variables and the abovementioned psychosocial variables. Hierarchical regression results showed that loss in future control (β = 0.28, p < .01) and self-blame coping (β = 0.26, p < .001) were associated with higher psychological distress; family communication (β= − 0.27, p < .001) and acceptance coping (β= − 0.18, p < .05) were associated with lower psychological distress among those parents. This study identified the important contributors to psychological distress of the parents of children with SEN in Hong Kong. Psychosocial interventions helping parents to reflect on resource loss due to COVID-19, training their skills in coping with stressors and effective family communication could promote their psychological adjustments in difficult pandemic situations.

Prevalence and network analysis of internet addiction, depression and their associations with sleep quality among commercial airline pilots: A national survey in China

ObjectiveAirline pilots are members of a unique occupational group that is often confronted with sleep routine disruptions, yet relatively few studies have examined their mental health status. This study assessed the prevalence and network structure of internet addiction, depression and sleep quality problems in commercial airline pilots. MethodA total of 7055 airline pilots were included in analyses. Internet addiction and depression were measured with the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) and 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), respectively. Sleep quality was evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The network model was constructed based on an Ising model and its association with sleep quality was evaluated using a flow procedure. ResultsInternet addiction, depression and sleep quality were common among airline pilots. The prevalence of internet addiction was 8.0 % (95 % CI: 7.3–8.6 %), while the rates of depression and poor sleep quality were 23.3 % (95 % CI: 22.3–24.2 %) and 33.0 % (95 % CI: 31.9–34.1 %), respectively. In the depression and internet addiction network model, “Fatigue” (PHQ4; Expected Influence (EI): 2.04) and “Depressed/moody/nervous only while being offline” (IAT20; EI: 1.76) were most central symptoms while “Fatigue” (PHQ4; Bridge EI: 1.30) was also the most important bridge symptom. The flow network model of sleep quality with internet addiction and depression showed that “Appetite” (PHQ5) had the strongest positive association with poor sleep quality. ConclusionInternet addiction, depression and sleep quality were common among airline pilots and warrant regular screening and timely treatment. Strategies to improve sleep hygiene may be useful in preventing onsets or exacerbations in depression and internet addiction among airline pilots.

Parental Separation: An Exploration on Learner’s Psychosocial well-being

Parental divorce or separation is an extensive issue that may affect children’s emotional, social, and academic well-being. Children who undergo parental separation may encounter a range of emotions, including confusion, sorrow, and rage, as they adjust to alterations in their family structure. Furthermore, they may face challenging loyalty issues, feel conflicted between their parents, and experience guilt for favoring one parent over another. This study utilized a phenomenological approach to investigate the experiences of a junior high school student living in Barangay Glan-Padidu, a rural area within the Municipality of Glan, Sarangani Province, Region XII, Philippines. The collected data revealed the disruption of students' daily routines and the loss of stability and security, resulting in anxiety and tension. These consequences also impacted students' social connections, academic achievements, and ability to develop healthy relationships with peers and adults. This study aimed to demonstrate how parental separation can weaken an individual's self-esteem and alter their perceptions of themselves. Family members with close ties are more likely to address problems both positively and productively. This study suggests that the power of a family stems from its ability to provide its children with a sense of identity, support, and purpose. By respecting and investing in familial relationships, we not only promote children's personal development and happiness but also contribute to a more compassionate and resilient society.

Testing relational turbulence theory in daily life using dynamic structural equation modeling

Abstract Using dynamic structural equation modeling (DSEM; Asparouhov et al., 2018), this study tests how partner disruptions of daily routines create a chaotic relational state through intensified emotions directed at partners, as posited by relational turbulence theory (RTT; Solomon et al., 2016). To test this affective process, individuals in dating relationships (N = 130) completed daily surveys for 30 days (T = 30; 3,478 total observations), measuring that day’s interference from their partner, anger experienced while interacting with their partner, and their relational turbulence. DSEM accounted for the intensive longitudinal aspects of the data while modeling three types of person-specific random effects: random intercepts to account for subject-specific averages; random slopes to account for subject-specific effects; and random variances to account for subject-specific volatility. RTT processes were supported, as greater than typical interference of routines in daily life predicted more relational turbulence that day via increased daily anger (controlling for the previous day’s levels). The use of DSEM allowed us to further test RTT by modeling person-specific inertia and volatility (for levels of interference, anger, and relational turbulence throughout a month). The use of a multilevel “location-scale” DSEM with random intercepts and random variances revealed that attachment avoidance and anxiety predicted a variety of person-specific features of the studied longitudinal processes: averages, inertia, and volatility over time. We provide our data and a supplemental primer to illustrate how to test communication theory with DSEM and model the intensive dynamics of daily life.

Higher education response to institutional upheaval: Outcomes of industry collaborations during the COVID-19 pandemic

Institutional upheaval spurred by the COVID-19 crisis suddenly and dramatically transformed the rules of the game for higher education organizations. The global pandemic thrust colleges and universities into ambiguous institutional environments. Disruption of established routines and supply networks resulted in the near collapse of global supply chains providing personal protective equipment (PPE), particularly N95 masks, needed by healthcare workers on the medical frontlines. This study describes and analyzes higher education and industry (HEI) partnership collaborations that adapted rapidly and responded effectively to meet the critical PPE need. The Citadel, Military College of South Carolina (The Citadel), along with the Tommy and Victoria Baker School of Business (BSB) and its Innovation Lab., engaged in a partnership with medical professionals at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). This partnership successfully manufactured, assembled, and distributed one thousand 3D-printed N95 masks in a crucial 16-week period. The study also shows how organizations in both institutional fields were able to expand dynamic capabilities enabling them to sense opportunities and to seize them by engaging and supporting each other in rapid and effective resource reconfigurations. This HEI collaboration culminated in a memorandum of understanding for ongoing collaboration to develop innovations for future responses to healthcare challenges.

How does mindfulness relate to sustainable attitude and behavior? The role of possible mediators

The study’s primary goal is to investigate the relationship between different aspects of mindfulness which were carved out by a systematic literature review on sustainability through possible mediators. The relationship between different aspects of mindfulness (acceptance, acting with awareness, decentering, inner awareness, outer awareness, insight) and sustainable attitudes and behavior under the consideration of mediating variables (congruence of attitudes and behavior, values, well-being, connectedness to nature, disruption of routines, pro-socialness) was investigated in 337 participants. The results showed the diverse relation of mindfulness to sustainable attitude and behavior. In a mediation model, sustainable attitude and sustainable behavior were positively predicted by outer awareness and insight via connectedness to nature. Moreover, sustainable attitude and behavior were positively predicted by inner awareness, outer awareness, and insight via pro-socialness. There were no direct effects from any other aspect of mindfulness on sustainable attitude or behavior. Our study hints that connectedness to nature and pro-socialness are the relevant mediators between mindfulness (awareness and insight) and sustainable attitude and behavior. However, further intervention studies should test whether these mindfulness aspects are the most important for changing sustainable attitudes and behaviors.

Social network support is associated with teacher’s perceptions of transition planning for their autistic students

BackgroundSchool transitions are accompanied by disruptions in routines and increased social and academic demands, creating challenges for autistic students, who often have difficulty coping with change. These transitions are also challenging for teachers, who often report feeling unprepared to guide their autistic students through the transition process. MethodsThis study examined teacher and student factors that contribute to teachers’ perceptions of transition planning for their autistic students. At four sites (Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Rochester, and Sacramento), 126 teachers responded to survey questions regarding their perception of transition planning for their autistic students, their students’ classroom behavior as they were preparing to transition, their own burnout, and a social network survey about the people they relied on to support their autistic students. ResultsTeachers reported being somewhat satisfied with their schools with the way that schools prepared their students for transition and that the transition planning was somewhat effective. Teachers also reported that they received little support from their schools during their students’ transition planning. Results of Generalized Linear Mixed Effects models indicated that teachers with positive perceptions of their students’ transition planning had larger support networks, ConclusionsThe findings of this study underscore that teachers’ support networks play an important role in helping teachers negotiate the transition process.

Dynamics of Indicators of Mental Performance of Modern Schoolchildren while Doing Homework

Introduction: Being a mandatory component of the educational process, homework remains its least regulated component. At the same time, recent scientific research findings give evidence of study overload and daily routine disruption in schoolchildren due to, inter alia, a significant amount of homework. The purpose of this work is to assess the functional state of the organism of schoolchildren in the process of doing homework for further optimization of this type of educational activity. Materials and methods: The study was based on testing of mental performance of schoolchildren in grades 1–8, which is an integral indicator of the functional state of the body and is crucial for educational activities. The technique of proofreading tests was used to assess the main parameters of mental performance: the number of characters viewed, the number of mistakes made, and their ratio. The tests were conducted before and after the children completed their homework. Results and discussion: A decline in mental performance was observed in the majority of the examined: the number of viewed characters decreased while the number of errors significantly increased after doing homework. First and second-year primary school children made 9.62 errors against 13.07; fifth graders – 3.49 against 7.85 errors (p &lt; 0.001); and eighth graders – 5.86 against 7.39 (p &lt; 0.05). A significant proportion of schoolchildren (28.6 to 72.7 %) had adverse shifts in mental performance characteristic of severe fatigue. The results show accumulated fatigue by the start of independent work with already deteriorated performance related to previous intensive studies at school; after insufficient rest against the background of a decline in physiological functions of the body, which is consistent with previous findings. Conclusion: It is essential to optimize organization of homework based on updated principles of mental health given its current features.

Impact of academic load on psycho-emotional state of high school students during preparation for and passing of the final assessment

The article presents the results of a medical and sociological study aimed at examining the impact of increased academic load on the well-being of high school students in Moscow during the preparation and examination period. According to the obtained data, this period is characterized by a significant increase in academic load, disruption of regular routines, and loss of social connections, which can lead to destabilization of students' psycho- emotional state. The majority of survey participants reported experiencing symptoms of stress, including nervousness, irritability, excessive fatigue, changes in eating habits, etc. which negatively affect their ability to absorb new material. In the opinion of high school students, the psychological support provided in schools often has a formal nature, limited to collective measures such as workshops and training sessions.

Long-term impact of resilience and extraversion on psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal investigation among individuals with and without mental health disorders.

Over the past years, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant disruptions in daily routines. Although the pandemic has affected almost everyone, it has been particularly challenging for people with pre-existing mental health conditions. Therefore, this study investigated the long-term impact of resilience and extraversion on psychological distress in individuals diagnosed with mental health disorders (MHD) compared to the general population. In addition, possible gender-specific differences were investigated. 123 patients with pre-existing MHD and 343 control subjects from Austria and Italy participated in three online surveys that had been conducted after the initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (t0), during the second lockdown in both countries (t1), and one year thereafter (t2). Participants completed standardized questionnaires on psychological distress (Brief-Symptom-Checklist), resilience (Resilience Scale), and extraversion (Big Five Inventory). A mediation model was employed to test the primary hypothesis. Possible gender-specific differences were analyzed using a moderated mediation model. The prevalence of psychological distress was consistently higher in patients compared to controls (t0: 37.3% vs. 13.2%, t1: 38.2% vs 11.7%, t2: 37.4% vs. 13.1%). This between-group difference in psychological distress at the first follow-up was fully mediated by baseline resilience scores (65.4% of the total effect). During the second-follow up, extraversion accounted for 18% of the total effect, whereas resilience slightly decreased to 56% of the total effect. Gender was not a significant moderator in the model. Next to showing that people with MHD were particularly affected by the pandemic, these findings indicate that higher degrees of resilience and extraversion are related to less long-term psychological distress. Our findings stress the relevance of strengthening resilience and extraversion and to provide mental health support in times of crises, both to patients with MHD and the general population.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic Era on Adolescent Mental Health

The COVID-19 pandemic, driven by the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has brought about substantial global lifestyle changes. Governments worldwide have responded with various strategies, including the implementation of social distancing, which necessitates maintaining physical distance and limiting social interactions to curb virus transmission. This study seeks to assess the pandemic's effects on adolescent mental health and identify potential strategies for fostering positive mental well-being during these trying times. Utilizing systematic review and literature methods, data were collected from research journals conducted by experts and sourced from two databases, Google Scholar and PubMed. The findings indicate a notable impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adolescent mental health, with disruptions in daily routines, especially due to distance learning resulting from social distancing measures, contributing to increased mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and trauma among adolescents. In conclusion, this analysis, based on a review of 12 pertinent articles, underscores the significant influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on adolescent mental health. Effective efforts aimed at promoting positive mental well-being during this crisis require further attention to mitigate the resultant negative consequences. Further research and tailored preventive measures are crucial for assisting adolescents in navigating the mental health challenges posed by this ongoing pandemic.

Daily routine disruptions and psychiatric symptoms amid COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis of data from 0.9 million individuals in 32 countries

BackgroundThere is currently a deficit of knowledge about how to define, quantify, and measure different aspects of daily routine disruptions amid large-scale disasters like COVID-19, and which psychiatric symptoms were more related to the disruptions. This study aims to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis on the probable positive associations between daily routine disruptions and mental disorders amid the COVID-19 pandemic and factors that moderated the associations.MethodsPsycINFO, Web of Science, PubMed, and MEDLINE were systematically searched up to April 2023 (PROSPERO: CRD42023356846). Independent variables included regularity, change in frequency, and change in capability of different daily routines (i.e., physical activity, diet, sleep, social activities, leisure activities, work and studies, home activities, smoking, alcohol, combined multiple routines, unspecified generic routines). Dependent variables included symptoms and/or diagnoses of mental disorders (i.e., depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and general psychological distress).ResultsFifty-three eligible studies (51 independent samples, 910,503 respondents) were conducted in five continents. Daily routine disruptions were positively associated with depressive symptoms (r = 0.13, 95% CI = [0.06; 0.20], p < 0.001), anxiety symptoms (r = 0.12, 95% CI = [0.06; 0.17], p < 0.001), and general psychological distress (r = 0.09, 95% CI = [0.02; 0.16], p = 0.02). The routine-symptom associations were significant for physical activity, eating, sleep, and smoking (i.e., type), routines that were defined and assessed on regularity and change in capability (i.e., definition and assessment), and routines that were not internet-based. While the positive associations remained consistent across different sociodemographics, they were stronger in geo-temporal contexts with greater pandemic severity, lower governmental economic support, and when the routine-symptom link was examined prospectively.ConclusionsThis is one of the first meta-analytic evidence to show the positive association between daily routine disruptions and symptoms of mental disorders among large populations as COVID-19 dynamically unfolded across different geo-temporal contexts. Our findings highlight the priority of behavioral adjustment for enhancing population mental health in future large-scale disasters like COVID-19.

Disrupted routines anticipate musical exploration

Understanding and predicting the emergence and evolution of cultural tastes manifested in consumption patterns is of central interest to social scientists, analysts of culture, and purveyors of content. Prior research suggests that taste preferences relate to personality traits, values, shifts in mood, and immigration destination. Understanding everyday patterns of listening and the function music plays in life has remained elusive, however, despite speculation that musical nostalgia may compensate for local disruption. Using more than one hundred million streams of four million songs by tens of thousands of international listeners from a global music service, we show that breaches in personal routine are systematically associated with personal musical exploration. As people visited new cities and countries, their preferences diversified, converging toward their travel destinations. As people experienced the very different disruptions associated with COVID-19 lockdowns, their preferences diversified further. Personal explorations did not tend to veer toward the global listening average, but away from it, toward distinctive regional musical content. Exposure to novel music explored during periods of routine disruption showed a persistent influence on listeners' future consumption patterns. Across all of these settings, musical preference reflected rather than compensated for life's surprises, leaving a lasting legacy on tastes. We explore the relationship between these findings and global patterns of behavior and cultural consumption.

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on youth mental health: a cross-sectional study on eating disorder patients and their unaffected siblings

BackgroundAdolescence has emerged as a particularly vulnerable phase during the COVID-19 pandemic, with eating disorders (EDs) representing a prominent psychopathological challenge linked to the restrictions imposed by the pandemic. Emerging evidence suggests that not only individuals with EDs but also their healthy siblings (HS) may experience unique psychological effects in this context. However, the existing literature on this topic remains limited. This study seeks to examine and compare the effects of the pandemic on adolescents and adults, with a specific focus on the impact of containment measures, disruptions in daily routines, and alterations in life trajectories, for both individuals with EDs and their HS.MethodsWe enrolled 273 individuals, including those diagnosed with EDs and their HS. Among the participants, 120 were under the age of 19. Multiple self-report questionnaires were administered to assess the psychological impact of 1 year of the COVID-19 pandemic. These assessments covered a range of psychological constructs, including posttraumatic symptoms, general psychopathology, and eating-related concerns.ResultsNotably, adolescent patients with EDs demonstrated the highest psychopathological scores within our sample. They were the sole subgroup to surpass clinical cutoffs, exhibiting more pronounced issues concerning eating-related concerns and general psychological well-being. Our findings also shed light on the unique experiences of HS during the pandemic.ConclusionOur findings highlight the specific psychological burden endured by adolescents with EDs throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the vulnerability of this demographic. Moreover, the experiences of HS, often overlooked in the literature, warrant increased attention in future health programs and interventions.

Impact of Covid-19 on Students’ Academic Performance at BS Level: A Case Study of District Peshawar

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has caused drastic disruptions in various sectors worldwide, including education. This study aims at looking into the impact of COVID-19 on the academic performance of students at the BS level in District Peshawar, Pakistan. The study utilizes a mixed study approach to collect both quantitative as well as qualitative data. The findings of the study highlight several factors that have influenced the student's academic performance during the Covid-19 pandemic, such as the sudden shift to online learning, lack of access to technology, internet connectivity, limited interaction with class fellows and teachers, heightened the anxiety, stress levels and disruptions in study routines. The collected data indicates that most students have negative perceptions of academic performance. Additionally, the study examines the role of institutional support, such as online teaching methodologies and assessment strategies, in facilitating students' academic progress. Furthermore, this study aims to provide evidence-based recommendations to policymakers, educational institutions and stakeholders to mitigate the adverse effects of COVID-19 on BS students.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and school closures on children and young people: A scoping review

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in widespread school closures and social distancing measures in several countries. This scoping review examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and school closures on various aspects of children's lives, including physical activity, nutrition, screen time, and mental health. Various psychosocial databases were researched. The findings of this review highlight the adverse effects of school closures on children's physical activity levels, with a significant reduction in exercise reported. Additionally, there has been an increase in unhealthy eating habits and weight gain among children during the closures. Electronic devices and screen time have also seen a notable increase, raising concerns about the potential impact on children’s well-being and physical health. This review emphasizes the adverse effects of school closures on children’s mental health. Increased stress, anxiety, depression, and other psychological symptoms have been reported among children during the pandemic. Social isolation, disruption of daily routines, and the lack of social interaction with peers have contributed to these mental health challenges. The importance of providing psychological support to children and young people during school closures to mitigate the negative impact on their mental health was also highlighted throughout. Overall, this review underscores the multifaceted impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and school closures on children’s physical and mental well-being. It highlights the need for interventions and strategies to promote physical activity, healthy nutrition, and mental health support for children during times of crisis.

Disruption avoidance and investigation of the H-Mode density limit in ASDEX Upgrade

In recent years a strong effort has been made to investigate disruption avoidance schemes in order to aid the development of integrated operational scenarios for ITER. Within the EUROfusion programme the disruptive H-mode density limit (HDL) has been studied on the WPTE (Work Package Tokamak Exploitation) devices ASDEX Upgrade, TCV and JET. Advanced real-time control coupled with improved real-time diagnostics has enabled the routine disruption avoidance of the HDL. This allowed the systematic study of the influence of various plasma parameters on the onset and behavior of the HDL in regimes not easily accessible otherwise. The upper triangularity δtop is found to have a significant influence on the x-point radiator (XPR), which plays a major role for the evolution of the disruptive HDL. At high δtop the gas flow rate at which the onset of the XPR occurs is strongly reduced compared to low δtop . The reduction of δtop has proven to be an effective actuator for the HDL disruption avoidance on ASDEX Upgrade for highly shaped scenarios ( δtop>0.25 ). It is observed that the occurrence of the XPR and the H–L transition at the density limit are two separate events, the order of which depends on the applied auxiliary heating power. At sufficiently high heating power the XPR occurs before the H–L transition. Impurity seeding, used for divertor detachment, influences the onset and the dynamics of the XPR and the behavior of the HDL. The stable existence of the XPR, which is thought to be a requirement for detachment control in future devices, has also been observed without impurity seeding. The implementation of a robust and sustainable operational scenario, e.g. for ITER, requires the combination of continuous control and exception handling. For each disruption path the appropriate observers and actuators have to be validated in present devices. Automation of the dynamic pulse schedule has proven successful to scan the operational space of the HDL without disruption. Applying such a technique to ITER could reduce the machine risk induced by disruptions during commissioning. The methodology to develop physics-based observers, which indicate the entry into a disruption path well in time, and applying the appropriate action before the discharge becomes unstable has proven successful.

Criminal Governance and Social Mobilization in Brazilian Favelas

This article examines the dynamics of crime governance and social mobilization in Brazil’s impoverished communities to answer why residents of favelas mobilize against state interventions while seemingly accepting the rule of organized criminal groups (OCGs). Previous studies have primarily explored the materialistic hypothesis or the role of coercion and fear in shaping community behavior. This article employs the tools provided by the literature on contentious politics and a qualitative meta-analysis to systematically assess the varied ways in which OCGs interact with the state and favela residents, mapping the heterogeneous effects produced as a result. The findings suggest that in favelas where criminal organizations are perceived as benign, residents may rely on them to fulfill basic needs, while the state is seen as an outsider that brings disruption of routines and violence. In favelas where criminal organizations are malign, there are few incentives for change as the outcomes of challenging OCGs are uncertain.

Understanding the Life and Challenges of Caregivers of Renal Patients Undergoing Dialysis in Kenya: A Qualitative Study

The research investigated the multifaceted challenges faced by caregivers of renal patients undergoing dialysis in Kenya, aiming to understand the impact on daily routines, socioeconomic factors, and mental health. Structured interviews were conducted with 32 caregivers (interview conducted till saturation with a target sample size of 59), predominantly spouses and children, revealing a complex web of responsibilities and hardships. The majority of caregivers assumed their roles due to a lack of alternatives, either being the sole available family member or chosen by others. While some experienced disruptions in daily routines, including changes in work schedules and sleep patterns, others adapted by delegating tasks or using financial resources. Caregivers often mirrored the dietary needs of patients, though this posed economic challenges and altered their own eating habits. Economically, caregivers faced heightened living costs attributed to dietary changes, medication expenses, and increased dialysis sessions. The study uncovers a significant decline in the quality of life for caregivers, with financial strains and altered sleep patterns contributing to their overall well-being. Mental health challenges were pervasive, with stress, emotional exhaustion, and even suicidal ideation reported. Caregivers expressed fears of abrupt health deterioration in patients and felt unsupported by medical facilities. The study concludes that caregivers draw motivation from relationships with patients, emphasising the need for comprehensive support mechanisms. The study recommended enhanced support programs, expanded health insurance coverage, and dedicated mental health support and education. These initiatives aim to alleviate the economic burden, improve the affordability of caregiving, and enhance caregivers' mental well-being. Implementing these recommendations ensures caregivers receive the necessary support to navigate their challenging roles effectively, benefiting both caregivers and renal patients

Investigating the reciprocity between cognition and behavior in adaptation to large-scale disasters

Cognition and behavior could reciprocally impact each other and together determine mental health amid large-scale disasters such as COVID-19. This study reports a six-month cohort study of a population-representative sample of Hong Kong residents (N = 906) from March–August 2021 (T1) to September 2021–February 2022 (T2). Cross-lagged panel analyses reveal that T1 poor behavioral functioning as indicated by high daily routine disruptions is inversely associated with T2 cognitive adaptation as indicated by self-efficacy and meaning-making but not vice versa. T1 routine disruptions but not cognitive adaptation are positively associated with T2 probable depression/anxiety. The positive link between T1 routine disruptions and T2 probable disorders is mediated by poor cognitive adaptation at T2. The present findings suggest that upholding daily behavioral functioning relative to positive states of mind could have a more pivotal role in mental health amid large-scale disasters. Future studies can test interventions that enhance the sustainment of regular daily routines.