Shira Chess, Ivanka Pjesivac, & Sun Joo (Grace) Ahn (2023). “Gendered leisure in the shadow of the pandemic: The self and the other in symbolic interaction,” paper to be presented at the 109th annual National Communication Association conference, November 16-19, National Harbor, MD.
Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic affected lives both globally and regionally, often disproportionately affecting women and minorities; family, health, work life, and leisure all changed over a short span of time. This study specifically focuses on one aspect of this equation: leisure. Leisure studies have long demonstrated equity issues regarding how women (particularly mothers) spend their free time. Because leisure can affect both physical and mental health, understanding women’s perception of their pandemic-related leisure practices illuminates the specificities of broader inequities both during and beyond the pandemic. In this qualitative study, we interviewed 30 US-based mothers describing their leisure habits before, during, and in the shadow of the pandemic to shed light on how COVID-19 disrupted and reinforced pre-existing gender-based leisure practices. Using the lens of symbolic interactionism, we posit that its meaning is being co-created in interaction between women and their surroundings during the pandemic. To this end, while leisure might seem to be a point of frivolity, the occurrence and quality of leisure time speaks to broader issues about how COVID-19 resulted in changes to quality of life and mental health issues.
Kim, Hanyoung (Grady Ph.D. Alum) & Han, Jeong-Yeob. (2023, May). “Unraveling The Effect of Social Media-Based Mental Health Campaigns During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Social Support Reception, Expression, and Coping Strategies” paper to be presented to Health Communication Division of the International Communication Association Annual Conference, Toronto, Canada.
Abstract: Recent research has accumulated evidence for the efficacy of participating in social media health campaigns. However, less is known about what communicative activities within social media campaigns are efficacious and in what ways such activities render positive outcomes. With this in mind, this study explored if and in what ways college students’ expression and reception of four different social support messages (i.e., informational, emotional, esteem, and network support) within a social media campaign produce health benefits. To do so, this study carried out a Facebook mental health campaign designed to help college students cope with psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our results showed that campaign participants’ support expression and reception are vital in their use of adaptive coping; more importantly, each support type predicted differential cognitive and affective coping outcomes. Moreover, support reception tended to directly contribute to coping adoption, while support expression exhibited a buffering effect, such that participants’ improvement in coping over the course of the campaign was greater for those who expressed more supportive messages for similar others.
Kate Fortmueller (2022). “Pandemic Soundstage: Policy and Reality in Hollywood’s Return to Work” Essential: Global Film and Television Production During the Pandemic. April 9-11. Tulane University. New Orleans, LA. https://express.adobe.com/page/ZPOFOt9Mwpd9x/
Abstract: In September 2020 Hollywood blockbusters resumed production, but it was by no means a return to normal. On big union productions, life on set had been altered in accordance with new safety measures as outlined by a task force comprised of the AMPTP, all the unions and guilds, and several health officials in their white paper and a second document, “The Safe Way Forward,” that added additional “organizing principles.” This collaboration between unions and management was unprecedented, marking a shift in how producers, studios and unions dealt with set safety proactively rather than in response to a tragic accident. However, the collaborative effort between those who fund and those who make Hollywood film and television, was just one of the media return-to-work plans. Stakeholders in these plans represented different state and private financial interests. I look at union-endorsed policies and the state guidelines to identify and compare the varied interests are reflected in the policies. Regardless of whether pandemic measures (or on-set consultants) remain long-term, these plans have helped raise new questions about media worker safety.
Abstract: Widely accepted public health actions and recommendations, particularly those related to vaccines, are critical to U.S. and global responses to infectious disease pandemics, such as COVID-19. Drawing from nationally published COVID-19 public opinion polls as well as social and behavioral science related to vaccination acceptance, this study used a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults 18 years-old and older, undertaken in November-December 2020, to examine how four key demographic characteristics (sex, age, race/ethnicity, education), political ideology (liberal, moderate, conservative), and news/information source preference (liberal, conservative, balanced) were related to COVID-19 vaccination intentions, COVID-19 risk-benefit perceptions, interest and attention to COVID-19 information, self-reported level of being informed on key COVID-19 items, and trust and use of common COVID-19 information sources. Multiple associations were found, with most having important implications for strategic communication efforts related to COVID-19 vaccination and other preventive health recommendations.
Santosh Vijaykumar, Daniel Rogerson, Yan Jin, and Mariella Silva de Oliveira Costa. (forthcoming). “Dynamics of Feedback Behaviours to Social Peers Sharing COVID-19 Misinformation on WhatsApp in Brazil.”
Abstract: Online COVID-19 misinformation is a serious concern in Brazil, home to the second largest WhatsApp user base and the second highest number of COVID-19 deaths. We examined the extent to which WhatsApp users themselves might be willing to correct their peers who might share COVID-19 misinformation. We conducted a cross-sectional online survey using Qualtrics among 726 Brazilian adults to identify types of peer feedback behaviours and health and technological factors that shape the performance of these behaviours. We discovered three ways in which feedback may or may not be delivered to social peers: active feedback to the group, active feedback to the sender only (private), and passive or no feedback. Our study found that those with lower levels of educational attainment and from younger age groups were less inclined to actively provide feedback. Lastly, we found that perceived severity of COVID-19 and the ability to critically evaluate a message were positively associated with providing feedback to either the group or privately the sender. The demographic analysis points to the need to strengthen information literacy among population groups that are younger with lower levels of educational attainment. These efforts could facilitate micro or individual-level contributions to the global fight against the infodemic led by the World Health Organisation in collaboration with member states, social media companies and civil society. Our study suggests that Brazil’s WhatsApp users might be willing to actively respond with feedback when exposed to COVID-19 misinformation by their peers on small world networks like WhatsApp groups.
Abstract: The paper presents findings from an international survey of communication professionals on change leadership in communication during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the strong impact brought by the pandemic, communication professionals adapt quickly in change management by using COVID-19 information to build knowledge, enhance trust, develop strategies and guide actions.
Abstract: This research presents the findings from a large-scale national online survey of Chinese citizens (N = 1,713) about their general knowledge of COVID-19 and the key communication channels that they used both during and after the pandemic. The perceived impact of COVID-19, personal safety concern, and information retention during the times of lockdown and post-pandemic were investigated over the four quarters of 2020. Particularly, we asked surveyed Chinese citizens to evaluate the quality of communication via three major categories of media channels (i.e., traditional media, digital media, and user-generated content on social media). Major sources of COVID-19 information and related source credibility were also investigated and compared.
Abstract: This research presents the findings from a large-scale national online survey of citizens in Mainland China about the perceived impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, both in the time of lockdown and post-pandemic. The study sheds light on the relationship between the trusted sources of COVID-19 information and the perceived quality in communication by jointly considering their impact on individuals’ knowledge retention of COVID-19 related facts. Results revealed that although individuals in China have relied on several major sources to seek COVID-19 information, the perceived quality of communication in user-generated content on social media remain lowest. Individuals’ knowledge retention on COVID-19 related health communication messages also varied by gender and by age. Implications of these findings for theory and public health practice are also discussed.
