Background Social and physical distancing in response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has made screen-mediated information and communication technologies (media) indispensable. Whether an increase in screen use is a source of or a relief for stress remains to be seen. Objective In the immediate aftermath of the COVID-19 lockdowns, we investigated the relation between subjective stress and changes in the pattern of media use. Based on Lazarus’s transactional model of appraisal and coping, and building on an earlier similar survey, we hypothesize that individual differences in the appraisal of media predict variations in approach or avoidance of media for coping with COVID-19 stress. Methods Between March 20 and April 20, 2020, a brief snowball survey entitled: “What media helps, what media hurts: coping with COVID19 through screens” was distributed via Concordia University’s mailing lists and social media (PERFORM Centre, EngAGE Centre, and Media Health Lab). Using a media repertoire method, we asked questions about preferences, changes in use, and personal appraisal of media experiences (approach, avoid, and ignore) as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and investigated interindividual differences in media use by factors such as subjective stress, age, gender, and self-reported mental health. Results More than 90% of the survey respondents were in Canada and the east coast of the United States. From 685 completed responses, 169 respondents were “very stressed” and 452 were “slightly worried” about the pandemic. COVID-19 stress led to increased use of Facebook (χ23=11.76, P=.008), television (χ23=12.40, P=.006), YouTube (χ23=8.577, P=.04), and streaming services such as Netflix (χ23=10.71, P=.01). Respondents who considered their mental health “not good” were twice as likely to prefer streaming services as a coping tool for self-isolation. Women and nonbinary respondents were twice as likely than men to pick social media for coping. Individuals younger than 35 years were 3 times more likely to pick computer games, and individuals older than 55 years were more likely to pick network television or print media. Gender affected the appraisal of media (less in men than others) in terms of avoid (F1,637=5.84, P=.02) and approach scores (F1,637=14.31, P<.001). Subjective mental health affected the ignore score (less in those who said “good” than others; F1,637=13.88, P<.001). The appraisal score and use increase explained variations in worrying about physical and mental health stress due to increased screen time. A qualitative analysis of open-ended questions revealed that media (especially social networks) were important for coping if they provided support and connection through the dissemination of factual and positive information while avoiding the overflow of sensational and false news. Conclusions The relationship between appraisal of media’s positive and negative facets vary with demographic differences in mental health resiliency. The media repertoire approach is an important tool in studies that focus on assessing the benefits and harms of screen overuse in different populations, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND The necessity of social and physical distancing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic made Screens more indispensable than ever before. In our previous work, we showed a positive correlation between stress and dependence on social networks and entertainment-related activities. OBJECTIVE The aim of current study is to examine the probability of a causal relationship between an acute global stressor like COVID-19 and media-specific increase in usage of information and communication technologies. METHODS Between March 20 – April 20, 2020, a brief snow-ball survey was distributed via several mailing lists associated with preventive health networks, and social media, to evaluate the relation between subjective stress due to COVID-19 (‘very stressed, ‘slightly worried’, ‘not worried at all’, ‘excited’), and media usage. Using a media-repertoires method, we asked questions about preferences, changes in usage, and personal appraisal of media experiences (approach, avoid, ignore), and investigated interindividual differences in media usage, by factors age, gender and self-reported mental health. RESULTS From N=685 completed responses, 169 respondents were ‘very stressed’, and 452 were ‘slightly worried’ about COVID-19. We observed a causal relation between COVID-19 stress interms of increased use of Facebook (χ2df=3. = 11.76, P=.008), Television (χ2df=3. = 12.40, P=.006), YouTube (χ 2df=3. = 8.577, P=.035) and Netflix (χ2df=3. = 10.71, P=.013). Respondents who considered their mental health “not good” were twice as likely to prefer Netflix as a coping tool for self-isolation. Women were twice more likely to pick Social Media. Individuals <35 years of age were 3 times more likely to pick Computer Games, and individuals older than 55 were three/two times more likely to pick Network Television/Print media. Gender affected the appraisal of media (Men < Others) in terms of Avoid (F(1,637)=5.84, P=.016) and Approach scores(F(1,637)=14.31, P<.001). Subjective Mental Health affected Ignore score (Good < Others) (F(1, 637) = 13.88, P<.001). Differences in appraisal score and usage increase also explained variations in worrying about the risks of physical and mental health stress as a result of increased screen-time. A qualitative network analyses of open-ended questions revealed that respondents’ considered media (especially social networks) to be important for coping, if they provided support and connection through dissemination of factual and positive information, while avoiding the overflow of sensational and false news. CONCLUSIONS Entertainment and social media are important resources for coping with stress. We illustrated a complex relationship between appraisal of media’s positive and negative facets that potentially vary with demographic differences in mental health resiliency. Media-repertoires approach is an important tool in studies that focus on assessing the benefits and harms of screen overuse in different populations, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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BackgroundMyriad psychosocial and cultural factors influence personal ways of coping with chronic pain (CP). Mobile health (mHealth) apps facilitate creation of citizen laboratories outside clinical frameworks. However, issues of safety, privacy and technostress must be addressed. This attitudinal user study aimed to assess whether persons with persistent pain (PwPP) would be open to sharing qualitative and quantitative data about their self-management of CP via mHealth platforms.MethodsIn March 2020, we invited PwPPs, their personal or medical caregivers, or those interested in the development of an app for researching alternative ways of self-managing CP to complete an anonymous survey. We formulated an attitudinal survey within the theoretical framework of stress to estimate whether the novelty, unpredictability, and risks of data-sharing via mHealth apps concerned users. Descriptive statistics (% Part/Group) were used to interpret the survey, and open comments were reflectively analyzed to identify emerging themes.ResultsOf 202 responses (June 2021), 127 identified as PwPPs (average age 43.86 ± 14.97; 100/127 female), and listed several primary and secondary CP diagnoses. In almost 90% of PwPPs, physical and emotional wellbeing were affected by CP. More than 90% of PwPPs used alternative therapies (acupuncture, homeopathy, massage therapy, etc.). Attitude toward mHealth apps were positive even though nearly half of PwPPs were unfamiliar with them. More than 72% of respondents were open to using a health-related app as a research tool for data collection in real life situations. Comprehensive data collection (especially about psychosocial factors) was the most important requirement. More respondents (especially medical professionals) were concerned about health hazards of misinformation communicated via health-related information and communication systems (maximum 80%) than about privacy (maximum 40%). Qualitative analyses revealed several promises and impediments to creation of data-sharing platforms for CP.ConclusionsThis study shows a general willingness among PwPPs to become partners in studying alternative pain management. Despite a generally positive attitude toward the concept of sharing complex personal data to advance research, heterogeneity of attitudes shaped by personal experiences must be considered. Our study underlines the need for any digital strategy for CP research to be person-centered and flexible.

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