The United Kingdom and Scottish governments instigated a societal lockdown in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Subsequently, many experienced substantial lifestyle changes alongside the stresses of potentially catching the virus or experiencing bereavement. Stressful situations and poorer health behaviors (e.g., higher alcohol consumption, unhealthy diet, poorer sleep quality, physical inactivity) are frequently linked to poor mental health. Our objective was to examine changes in health behaviors and their relationship with negative mood during COVID-19 lockdown. We also considered associations between health behaviors and socio-demographic differences and COVID-19-induced changes. 399 participants completed a questionnaire asking about their personal situation and health behaviors during lockdown as well as a negative mood scale. The significance threshold for all analyses was α = 0.05. Poorer diet was linked to more-negative mood, and to changes to working status. Poorer sleep quality was linked with more-negative mood, and with ‘shielding’ from the virus. Being less physically active was related to more-negative mood and student status, whereas being more physically active was linked to having or suspecting COVID-19 infection within the household. Increased alcohol consumption was linked to living with children, but not to negative mood. Changes to diet, sleep quality, and physical activity related to differences in negative mood during COVID-19 lockdown. This study adds to reports on poor mental health during lockdown and identifies lifestyle restrictions and changes to health behaviors which may, to some extent, be responsible for higher negative mood. Our data suggests that it is advisable to maintain or improve health behaviors during pandemic-associated restrictions.

Background: Persistent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms are increasingly well-reported in cohort studies and case series. Given the spread of the pandemic, number of individuals suffering from persistent symptoms, termed ‘long COVID', are significant. However, type and prevalence of symptoms are not well reported using systematic literature reviews.Objectives: In this scoping review of the literature, we aggregated type and prevalence of symptoms in people with long COVID.Eligibility Criteria: Original investigations concerning the name and prevalence of symptoms were considered in participants ≥4-weeks post-infection.Sources of Evidence: Four electronic databases [Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL)] were searched.Methods: A scoping review was conducted using the Arksey and O'Malley framework. Review selection and characterisation was performed by three independent reviewers using pretested forms.Results: Authors reviewed 2,711 titles and abstracts for inclusion with 152 selected for full-text review. 102 articles were subsequently removed as this did not meet inclusion criteria. Thus, fifty studies were analysed, 34 of which were described as cohort studies or prospective cohort studies, 14 were described as cross-sectional studies, one was described as a case control study, and one was described as a retrospective observational study. In total, >100 symptoms were identified and there was considerable heterogeneity in symptom prevalence and setting of study. Ten studies reported cardiovascular symptoms, four examined pulmonary symptoms, 25 reported respiratory symptoms, 24 reported pain-related symptoms, 21 reported fatigue, 16 reported general infection symptoms, 10 reported symptoms of psychological disorders, nine reported cognitive impairment, 31 reported a sensory impairment, seven reported a dermatological complaint, 11 reported a functional impairment, and 18 reported a symptom which did not fit into any of the above categories.Conclusion: Most studies report symptoms analogous to those apparent in acute COVID-19 infection (i.e., sensory impairment and respiratory symptoms). Yet, our data suggest a larger spectrum of symptoms, evidenced by >100 reported symptoms. Symptom prevalence varied significantly and was not explained by data collection approaches, study design or other methodological approaches, and may be related to unknown cohort-specific factors.

Studies examining the effect of social isolation on cognitive function typically involve older adults and/or specialist groups (e.g., expeditions). We considered the effects of COVID-19-induced social isolation on cognitive function within a representative sample of the general population. We additionally considered how participants 'shielding' due to underlying health complications, or living alone, performed. We predicted that performance would be poorest under strictest, most-isolating conditions. At five timepoints over 13 weeks, participants (N = 342; aged 18-72 years) completed online tasks measuring attention, memory, decision-making, time-estimation, and learning. Participants indicated their mood as 'lockdown' was eased. Performance typically improved as opportunities for social contact increased. Interactions between participant sub-groups and timepoint demonstrated that performance was shaped by individuals' social isolation levels. Social isolation is linked to cognitive decline in the absence of ageing covariates. The impact of social isolation on cognitive function should be considered when implementing prolonged pandemic-related restrictive conditions.

We explored parasocial interactions with characters from a narrow range of books and movies, namely those featuring the character 'Harry Potter'. Following research which suggests that parasocial interactions are multidimensional, we investigated which personality, reading and viewing motives, predicted four dimensions of parasocial interaction with characters in the 'Harry Potter' series. The pattern of significant predictors indicated that interpersonal aspects of reading (neuroticism, reading for companionship) and sociable aspects of movie viewing (openness, agreeableness, extraversion, and viewing to be sociable) lead to greater experience of the dimensions of parasocial interaction. We suggest that these factors relate to the availability of interactive media and experiences surrounding this series;and, the series representing mainstream rather than subcultural media. Results support the suggestion that parasocial interaction is multidimensional; and demonstrate that factors predicting these dimensions may vary dependent on the medium in which the favoured persona is presented, or on the identity of the favoured persona.Readers of Harry Potter books and viewers of movies were shown to have one-sided 'relationships' with characters from the series. Such relationships may form because readers want someone to relate to, and because viewers want to be sociable. These relationships are potentially driven by the extent of immersive multi-media surrounding Harry Potter, and by the mainstream status of the series. 3 Parasocial interaction with characters from Harry Potter My friend Harry's a wizard: Predicting parasocial interaction with characters from fiction Parasocial interaction (PSI) was initially conceptualised as a one-sided relationship which an audience member may hold with a television personality (Horton & Wohl, 1956). Focusing on media personalities, such as game show hosts or interviewers, Horton and Wohl outlined different characteristics which could make up such a relationship. Such characteristics include a level of intimacy experienced outside of viewing time, role adoption, non-mutual and non-dialectic communication. Building on these characteristics, a range of research has been carried out assessing the PSIs people engage in with different non-fiction and fiction media personalities; including radio presenters, news readers and soap opera characters.Within this article, we look at PSIs formed with characters featured in books and movies. We have restricted the range of personalities under consideration by requesting participants consider a PSI in relation to a character in a specific series of movies and booksnamely those involving the character Harry Potter. We assess the involvement of personality traits in forming a PSI with characters from these movies and books, and identify motives for viewing and reading considering a uses and gratifications perspective. In examining some of the factors which lead to the formation of a PSI with a character from the Harry Potter series we also provide sup...

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