COVID-19 information exposure in digital media and implications for employees in the health care sector: findings from an online survey

Bazán, Paulo Rodrigo; Neto, Raymundo Machado de Azevedo; Dias, Julia Abou; Salvatierra, Vanessa Gil; Sanches, Liana Guerra; Lacerda, Sheylla Nadjane Batista; Amaro, Edson; Kozasa, Elisa Harumi; Balardin, Joana Bisol

doi:10.31744/einstein_journal/2020ao6127

Cited by 12 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 17 publications

(32 reference statements)

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“…For example, increased exposure to social media about the coronavirus was positively associated with the prevalence of anxiety, depression, and a combination of both, as verified in an online survey in China ( Gao et al, 2020 ). Similar relations between psychological distress and information consumption or social media use were found in other countries as well ( Bazán et al, 2020 ; Hammad and Alqarni, 2021 ; Mongkhon et al, 2021 ; Piltch-Loeb et al, 2021 ). The changes in the emotional state of health care professionals due to the valence of news about the coronavirus were evaluated just after they listened to audios with positive or negative content.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 79%

COVID-19 news valence effects on emotion and its modulation by a relaxation: A randomized online experiment during COVID-19 pandemic

Bazán

Neto

Lacerda

et al. 2021

Internet Interventions

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This study evaluated how news with positive and negative content about COVID-19, as well as a relaxation pause, affect the emotional state. We also investigated the association between emotional state and practicing meditation/yoga, physical activity or having a mental disease. For that, a sample of 717 participants, recruited through social media, were randomly assigned to listen to negative or positive news about COVID-19. After that, both groups were guided through a short relaxation pause. Their emotional state was measured before they listened to the audios and after each audio. Mixed linear models were used to evaluate the effects of news group, relaxation pause, mental health and well-being practices. Negative news worsened their emotional state, whereas positive news improved it. A brief relaxation pause improved the effects of negative news content and may mitigate the effects of this valence of information. Practicing physical activity, meditation/yoga was associated with better emotional responses.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 79%

COVID-19 news valence effects on emotion and its modulation by a relaxation: A randomized online experiment during COVID-19 pandemic

Bazán

Neto

Lacerda

et al. 2021

Internet Interventions

Self Cite

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“…Other research has examined the incidence of COVID-19-related information overload [ 44 ]. Research has also tried to identify risk factors for the occurrence of information overload [ 45 , 46 ] and the impact it has on mental health [ 47 ]. These studies on mental health are the nearest in content to the present one.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Information Overload, Wellbeing and COVID-19: A Survey in China

Fan

Smith

2021

Behavioral Sciences

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(1) Psychology must play an important role in the prevention and management of the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of the present study was to examine associations between the perceptions of information overload and wellbeing in China during the initial phase of COVID-19. (2) Methods: The present research involved a cross-sectional online survey, which controlled for established predictors of wellbeing and the perception of general (not COVID-19-specific) information overload. The setting of the research was China, February 2020. A total of 1349 participants completed an online survey, and the results from 1240 members of the general public who stated that they were uninfected are reported here (55.6% female; 49.4% single; age distribution: 17–25 years: 26%; 26–30 years: 24.3%; 31–40 years: 23.9%; 41–50 years: 16.2%; 51 years+: 9.6%; the most frequent occupations were: 21.5% students; 19.5% teachers; 25.9% office workers; 10.8% managers, plus a few in a wide range of jobs). The outcomes were positive wellbeing (positive affect and life satisfaction) and negative wellbeing (stress, negative affect, anxiety and depression). (3) Results: Regressions were carried out, controlling for established predictors of wellbeing (psychological capital, general information overload, positive and negative coping). Spending time getting information about COVID-19 was associated with more positive wellbeing. In contrast, perceptions of COVID-19 information overload and feeling panic due to COVID-19 were associated with more negative wellbeing. (4) Conclusions: These results have implications for the communication of information about COVID-19 to the general public and form the basis for further research on the topic.

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“…There were more frequently reported by participants who increased their social media access. This study suggests that excessive information exposure may lead to distress and decrease mental health ( Bazán et al, 2020 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Can news with positive or negative content affect and a relaxation pause improve the emotional state of health care professionals? A randomized online experiment during COVID-19 pandemic

Bazán¹,

Neto²,

Lacerda³

et al. 2021

Internet Interventions

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A cause of mental distress during the COVID-19 pandemic is media exposure, which can impact health care professionals (HCPs) who must keep up to date with the statistics and procedures to fight the outbreak. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of listening to negative and positive news about COVID-19 pandemic and a relaxation pause audio. For that, we measured the emotional state through Likert items in a scale developed to assess how anxious, stressed, hopeful, conscious about emotions, irritated, despondent, joyful, optimistic, and preoccupied, he or she was feeling in the moment of evaluation. In an online experiment, an HCPs sample of 245 participants were randomly assigned to either listen to negative or positive news contents about COVID-19. After that, both groups were guided by a relaxation pause activity in which they paid attention to the body and breath. They were assessed before and after listening to each audio. After listening to negative news, participants entered in a more negative emotional state than at baseline ( p < 0.001) and compared with participants who listened to positive news (p < 0.001). Both groups improved their emotional state after performing the proposed brief relaxation ( p < 0.001). These results show the importance of HCPs being aware and controlling the content of consumed news. A brief relaxation practice can mitigate the negative effects of consuming information with negative content.

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COVID-19 information exposure in digital media and implications for employees in the health care sector: findings from an online survey

Cited by 12 publications

References 17 publications

COVID-19 news valence effects on emotion and its modulation by a relaxation: A randomized online experiment during COVID-19 pandemic

COVID-19 news valence effects on emotion and its modulation by a relaxation: A randomized online experiment during COVID-19 pandemic

Information Overload, Wellbeing and COVID-19: A Survey in China

Can news with positive or negative content affect and a relaxation pause improve the emotional state of health care professionals? A randomized online experiment during COVID-19 pandemic

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