Sharing positive changes made during COVID-19 national lockdown: a multi-method co-production study

Abstract

Objectives: A multi-method co-production study was designed to share psychosocial insights into the adoption of positive changes made during COVID-19 national lockdown in Scotland. We examined: i) the psychosocial patterning of positive changes, ii) the psychosocial processes by which positive change was realised, and worked with partner organizations to share our insights. Method: A sequential multi-method design included an online survey (n=2445) assessing positive changes in sleep and physical activity patterns, socio-demographics, mood, social support, coping, and resilience, with multivariate logistic regression analysis. We also employed interviews with a purposive diverse sub-sample of people self-reporting high levels of positive change (n=48) and used thematic analysis. Finally, partnership work translated insights into positive change-sharing targeted resources. Results: The survey identified positive change was significantly patterned by age, gender and vulnerability to COVID-19. Higher positive reframing and higher active coping were associated with higher levels of cross-domain positive change. Higher symptoms of depression, planning, and self-distraction were associated with less cross-domain positive change. Thematic analysis showed the centrality of perceptions of time, opportunities to self-reflect and engage with the natural world, access support in diverse ways, actively build routine and purposefully build self-efficacy and a sense of control were key to initiating positive change. Our partner organizations focused on the rapid co-production of a series of online resources that shared study insights. Conclusions: Our study, based around a salutogenic ethos and the constraints of COVID-19, sought to identify and share insights into achieving positive changes at a time of international crisis.

Latent class analysis of COVID-19 experiences, social distancing, and mental health.

“…At the same time, there are some studies that indicate perceived resource gains as a result of social distancing restrictions. For instance, some individuals reported strengthening relationships with close family and friends (condition resource), more time to pursue hobbies and other interests, and spend more time outdoors (energy resource; Cornell et al, 2021; Mucci-Ferris et al, 2021; Whitehead & Torossian, 2020; Williams et al, 2021). Other reported positives were work flexibility (condition resource) and time to engage in homeschooling children (energy resource; Cornell et al, 2021).…”