Communication strategies and media discourses in the age of COVID-19: an urgent need for action

Abstract

Summary Identified in December 2019 in China, the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) has been declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Pandemics share features that increase fear. While some fear can stimulate preventive health behaviors, extreme fear can lead to adverse psychological and behavioral response. The media play a major role shaping these responses. When dealing with a PHEIC, the authorities’ communication strategies are embedded in a multilevel governance and a highly hierarchal system, which adds another layer of complexity. Carrying out more ‘real-world research’ is crucial to generate evidence relating to the psychosocial and behavioral aspects involved during the COVID-19 pandemic and how it is shaped by authorities and media discourses. Interdisciplinary research and international collaborations could contribute to improve our understanding and management of risk information. Emerging from a socio-ecological perspective, future research must integrate multilevel analytical elements, to ensure triangulation of evidence and co-constructing robust recommendations. A mixed-method approach should be privileged to address these issues. At the micro-level, a population-based survey could be conducted in various jurisdictions to assess and compare psychosocial issues according to sociocultural groups. Then, a quantitative/qualitative discourse analysis of the media could be performed. Finally, a network analysis could allow assessing how official information flows and circulates across levels of governance. The COVID-19 represents an opportunity to evaluate the impacts of information/communication strategy and misinformation on various cultural and socioeconomic groups, providing important lessons that could be applied to future health emergencies and disasters.

The Evolution in Anxiety and Depression with the Progression of the Pandemic in Adult Populations from Eight Countries and Four Continents

“…The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki, was reviewed and approved by the Research Ethics Board of the CIUSSS de l'Estrie-CHUS (HEC ref: 2020-3674). Further details concerning the goals, objectives and methods of this broad research project can be found elsewhere [17,22]. The second phase of the international survey was conducted from 6-18 November 2020, following the pilot phase conducted in Canada only in April 2020 (n = 600) and the first international phase conducted in June 2020 (n = 8806).…”

“…Various factors play important roles in coping with a highly stressful situation such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing turmoil [17]. Given that disruption, loss, and confusion due to the pandemic and the infodemic could realistically affect our everyday lives, recognizing and strengthening these protective factors might be key to mitigating the psychosocial impacts of the current crisis.…”

The Application of Salutogenesis in Politics and Public Policy-Making

“…Experiences of coherent structures have been linked to the ability to make compromises, participating in adapting and creating appropriate resources, and even develop trust in society and its institutions (Habermas, 2016;Kickbusch & Szabo, 2014;Marmot & Allen, 2013). Trust in the state and its governance emerged, in turn, as an important coping resource during the early stages of the Corona pandemic (Genereux et al, 2020;Généreux, David, O'Sullivan, et al, 2020;. Thus, providing populations with a coherent understanding of what is going on contributes to stabilising society.…”

“…Sharing experiences with your in-group can be a conscious-rising, empowering experience, which helps you to understand the structural components of your experience, and collectively seek solutions (Carr, 2003). The community emerges as an important coping resource in the face of disaster or conflict (Braun-Lewensohn et al, 2019;Braun-Lewensohn & Sagy, 2011;Braun-Lewensohn & Sagy, 2014;Généreux, David, O'Sullivan, et al, 2020;Généreux, Roy, O'Sullivan, & Maltais, 2020;Namihira, 2019). The community, and even national states, are crucial contexts for the experience of coherence in difficult times (Sagy et al, 2020;Sagy & Braun-Lewensohn, 2009;Sagy, 2015;Braun-Lewensohn et al, 2019;Ben David et al, 2017).…”

“…In turn, processes, and their interplay with media representations, influence coping at an individual as well as at a community level. On the one hand, trust in authorities and sense of coherence (SOC) emerged as crucial coping resources which reduced the risk of developing mental illness during the Covid-19 pandemic across countries (Généreux, David, O'Sullivan, et al, 2020;Généreux, Roy, O'Sullivan, & Maltais, 2020). On the other hand, false beliefs, mistrust in authorities, stigma, perceived threat and financial loss raised probabilities of ill mental health .…”