Cognitive Hardiness in the Face of Uncertainty: PhD-ing from Home During a Global Pandemic

Commencing a PhD is not always the easiest decision, especially amidst a global pandemic. Despite knowing this, commencing a PhD from home was a decision I chose to make when I was uncertain about my future after completing my Master's. Within this chapter, I discuss how learning the concept of cognitive hardiness proved to be useful to me during this journey. Cognitive hardiness comprises commitment, control, and challenge. I was also fortunate to have supportive supervisors and opportunities to engage in coaching, as well as formal and informal mentoring. In addition to discussing my experiences within this chapter, I also reached out to a colleague who is completing a Master's by Research to assess if there were any points of comparison in our experiences of commencing our studies from home. I hope the research and reflections from our experiences will help other early career researchers and academics develop a variety of coping mechanisms to maintain control, remain committed, and embrace challenges within the current environment, given the possibility that the world of academia has been changed forever. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2022.

How psychological first aid can help nurses to cope: An intervention strategy that helps nurses deal with distressing or traumatic incidents, or crisis situations

Psychological first aid (PFA) is an intervention strategy to support people in severe distress following crisis events. These traumatic events might include natural disasters, accidents, violent crimes or trauma experienced in nursing work, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Doing time in care homes: insights into the experiences of care home residents in Germany during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic

Residents of care homes across the globe are affected by the spread of SARS-CoV-2 as they have been identified as a high-risk group and because they experienced strict social isolation regulations during the first wave of the pandemic. Social isolation of older people with poor physical and mental health is strongly associated with mental health problems and decreased life expectancy. Other research has shown that older people managed to adapt to the changes brought about by the pandemic and have linked this to the concept of resilience. The aim of this research project was to investigate how this applied to residents in care home settings during the first phases of the contact ban in Germany from sociology, developmental psychology and environmental gerontology perspectives, and to gain in-depth understanding of residents' experiences. This paper draws on structured interview data collected from residents in two care homes during early June 2020 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. The findings show that their experiences were shaped by three factors: care home settings and the approach of staff to handling the contact ban;biographical sense of resilience;and a hierarchy of life issues. The findings highlight the importance of locally specific response mechanisms in care homes, agency and belonging of residents despite health-related limitations and the importance of a critical (gendered) lens on understanding their experiences.

The Effect of Health Hardiness on Fear of COVID-19 in Nurses: Investigating the Mediating Role Tolerance of Emotional Distress

Background: Nurses have the most level of communication with patients with COVID-19 who are always afraid of the disease and its consequences. Therefore, the present study aimed at investigating the effect of health hardiness on fear of COVID-19 in nurses with the mediating role tolerance of emotional distress. Methods: The method of this research was descriptive-correlational. The statistical population of the present study consisted of all 351 female nurses of Imam Khomeini and Taleghani hospitals in Urmia in spring 2021. According to the target population, 205 nurses were selected based on Krejcie and Morgan's table and according to the available method. In this study, the Fear of COVID-19 Questionnaire developed by Ahorsu et al. [2020], the Health Hardiness Questionnaire designed by Gebhardt et al. [2001], and the Emotional Distress Tolerance Questionnaire developed by Simons and Gaher [2005] were used. Data were analyzed by Pearson correlation coefficient and stepwise regression. Results: The findings showed that health hardiness and tolerance of emotional distress were involved in fear of COVID-19. Also, according to the values obtained, health hardiness had an effect of-0.364 on fear of COVID-19, and tolerance of emotional distress had an effect –of-0.178 on fear of COVID-19 [p≤0.01]. Health hardiness an effect equal to-0.528 on fear of COVID-19 with the mediating role of tolerance of emotional distress. Conclusion: This study showed that cognitive factors in proportion to emotional factors have a greater effect on the fear of COVID-19 in nurses. © 2022, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved.

Resilience to COVID-19 challenges: Lessons for school psychologists serving school-attending black South African youth aged 10 to 19 years old

Several studies have highlighted the mental health challenges of children and youth during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown period, especially, in relation to an escalation of depression, anxiety, and stress. Whilst this may be the reality, it is unfortunate that most of the studies adopt a psychopathological point of departure often portraying doom and gloom. Adopting a social ecological resilience perspective the author focuses on the resilience of school-attending black South African youth during the COVID-19 lockdown period. The Child and Youth Resilience Measurement (CYRM-28) was completed by 4165 respondents in grades 4 to 12 (females = 2431, 58.4%;males = 1734, 41.6%) from the Gauteng, Mpumalanga and North-West provinces in South Africa. The findings indicate that school psychologists must consider gender, age and school levels when they design school-based resilience programmes for black South African children. Particular emphasis should be placed on contextual resilience highlighting spiritual, religious, cultural and educational factors. A major lesson for school psychologists is to ensure that school-based resiliency programmes adopt a whole school approach that includes children, their families and local communities for the successful promotion of resilience during adverse situations as postulated by the social ecological resilience model.

Risks and opportunities for children's well-being in resource-constrained multigenerational households during COVID-19: Implications for school psychology interventions

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic had a global impact on family social and economic well-being. Individuals and families sought alternative living arrangements as a result of the financial crisis, health implications, and housing insecurity, with many joining multigenerational households. However, it is unknown how multigenerational family life affects children's well-being. Therefore, this qualitative study explored risks and resilience-building opportunities for children's psychological and social well-being in resource-constrained multigenerational households during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa. Five multigenerational families were selected through snowball sampling and case design. The three generations of participants were grandparents (n = 5), parents (n = 7), and children (n = 4). Data were gathered through a questionnaire and interviews. The study received institutional ethics approval. After thematic analysis, two themes and six sub-themes were identified. Risks were related to interpersonal conflict, family collective fear of COVID-19, and children's multiple other fears. Opportunities were identified as academic support, shared responsibilities, life skills and values acquisition, and family cohesion. Results demonstrated the potential risks and resilience-building opportunities multigenerational households present for children's psychosocial well-being. Multisystemic influences in a multigenerational household contribute to children's adjustment. These outcomes necessitate systemic school psychology interventions. Longitudinal studies are recommended to explore child well-being trends in multigenerational households in varying socioeconomic contexts.

Towards best practice during COVID-19: A responsive and relational program with remote schools to enhance the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students

Purpose: From 2018, the Schools Up North (SUN) programme worked with three remote Australian schools to enhance their capability and resilience to support the wellbeing and mental health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and staff. This paper explores the implementation of SUN during the first two years of COVID-19 (2020–2021). Method: Using grounded theory methods, school staff, other service providers and SUN facilitators were interviewed, with transcripts and programme documents coded and interrelationships between codes identified. An implementation model was developed. Results: The SUN approach was place-based, locally informed and relational, fostering school resilience through staff reflection on and response to emerging contextual challenges. Challenges were the: community lockdowns and school closures;(un)availability of other services;community uncertainty and anxiety;school staff capability and wellbeing;and risk of educational slippage. SUN strategies were: enhancing teachers' capabilities and resources, facilitating public health discussions, and advocating at regional level. Outcomes were: enhanced capability of school staff;greater school-community engagement;student belonging and engagement;a voice for advocacy;and continuity of SUN's momentum. Conclusions: The resilience approach (rather than specific strategies) was critical for building schools' capabilities for promoting students and staff wellbeing and provides an exemplar for remote schools globally.

HARDINESS AND COPING STRATEGIES OF MEDICAL WORKERS IN COUNTERING EMOTIONAL BURNOUT (DURING THE FOURTH WAVE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN RUSSIA)

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the problem of psychological well-be-ing of medical workers is becoming particularly relevant. The appeal of physicians to intrapersonal hardiness resources, the use of optimal coping strategies for long-term work in a pandemic increases the likelihood of a more favorable passage of a stressful period and a decrease in emotional burnout. Goal. To identify the specifics of emotional burnout of medical workers during the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the context of the characteristics of the state of hardiness and the use of coping strategies. Adaptation to the Russian language of the methodology "Burnout scale in COVID-19 (COVID-19-BS)” (M. Yıldırım, F. Solmaz). Materials and methods of research. The study was conducted in November-De-cember 2021. The study sample included 128 medical workers: 37.5% doctors, 47% middle and junior medical personnel, 15.5% medical students who volunteered to work in medical institutions during the pandemic;23% men, 77% women;aged 21 to 63 years (M=35 years). The study was conducted in the city of Ivanovo (47%), the city of Moscow and the Moscow region (57%). The following techniques were used: "The test of hardiness” (S. Muddy, in the Russian-language adaptation of E.N. Osin, E.I. Rasskazova), "Questionnaire of coping methods” (OSS) (R. Lazarus, S. Folkman, in the Russian-language adaptation of T.L. Kryukova, E.V. Kuftyak, M.S. Zamyshlyaeva), "Stress and Anxiety to Viral Epidemics-9 items (SAVE-9) for Healthcare workers” (S. Chang with et al.;in the Russian-language adaptation by S.E. Mosolova et al.), "Burnout scale in COVID-19 (COVID-19-BS)” (M. Yildi-rim, F. Solmaz). The empirical data obtained were interpreted and processed using qualitative and quantitative methods of analysis, including: descriptive statistics, Spearman correlation analysis, linear regression analysis (step selection method), Mann-Whitney U-test. Results. The study showed that every third medical employee at work during the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Russia, in the context of the COVID-19 epidemic, experiences stress and anxiety, shows signs of emotional burnout. Two-thirds of medical workers as a whole have demonstrated a sufficient level of hardiness development. Hardiness parameters are negatively associated with anxiety and emotional burnout of physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic. The greatest durability of this effect is provided by such parameters of resilience as "engage-ment” and "risk taking”. Which indicates that hardiness may be a protective factor for medical professionals. The most implemented coping strategies among physicians are problem solving planning, social support search, self-control, positive reassessment. The choice of non-constructive copings (confrontation, distancing, escape-avoidance) promotes the development of emotional burnout. The study con-firmed the reliability and validity of the COVID-19-BS questionnaire for measuring emotional burnout associated with COVID-19. Conclusion. The data obtained on the peculiarities of the psychological state of medical workers during the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic indicate the need to continue work related to their psychological support and support for their personal and professional development, prevention of depression and post-trau-matic stress disorder. © 2022, Science and Innovation Center Publishing House. All rights reserved.

The Impact of COVID-19, Mental Health Distress, and School-Based Sociocultural Protective Factors among Elementary-Aged Children and their Caregivers

Given the individual and systemic stress endured by children and families during the COVID-19 pandemic, research examining culturally responsive school experiences and supports to enhance resilience is critical. This study examined the relationship between caregivers' perceptions of COVID-19 impact, mental health distress among children and caregivers, and school-based sociocultural protective factors, including culturally responsive practices in schools and the relationships between teachers and caregivers, concurrently and longitudinally. Data were collected from caregivers of elementary-aged children at two-time points from March to April 2020 (N = 174) and one year later in 2021 (N = 114). Regression analyses revealed that COVID-19 impact positively predicted and parent-teacher joining negatively predicted mental health concerns among children and families, concurrently and longitudinally. Furthermore, there was a positive relationship between caregivers' perceptions of teachers' social awareness and justice practices and mental health symptoms for children in 2020. Parent-teacher joining longitudinally moderated the relationship between COVID-19 impact and caregivers' mental health concerns. This study provides implications regarding sociocultural resilience factors that should be considered in schools amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Older People, Loneliness, Social Isolation and Technological Mitigations: Utilising Experiences of the Covid-19 Pandemic as we Move Forward

In this article, the effects of social isolation which can lead to increasing feelings of loneliness and abandonment for some are examined. The article analyses findings which emerged from a qualitative study carried out with older people in three distinct areas in Scotland (city, rural and urban) who were shielding during Covid-19. It focuses on the ways in which social isolation affected them and the extent to which information and communication technology (ICT) and telecare technologies served to mitigate key aspects. The key themes which emerged from the research included loneliness as 'multi-layered', with these layers including 'disconnections between loneliness and social isolation';'well-being reversals';'neighbours as strangers';'disjointed communities and co-production' and 'service abandonment'. Additional themes which emerged focused on 'ICT rebounds and evolvement' and 'hope, buoyancy and reciprocity'. These layers and themes can be seen to have longer term significance with regard to the implications for social work and social care planning as we move forward. They also emphasise the need for greater cohesiveness between health, telecare and social care services.

Rural parent and elementary school student resilience to COVID-19: Disability status and parental predictors of change

Little is known about how the COVID-19 pandemic relates to child and parent functioning in a rural population. The present study investigated how disability status and parent factors related to resilience in a rural population before and after the shift to remote instruction. Parents of elementary-aged children in a rural area of the U.S. completed an online questionnaire, rating their own functioning and their child's academic, cognitive, and socioemotional functioning (1) retrospectively thinking back to a month before the pandemic, and (2) at the time of the survey, approximately four months after the onset of pandemic changes. Parents of children with disabilities perceived stronger child resilience through the pandemic transition than parents of children without disabilities. Additionally, parents who better maintained their work-life balance and support through the pandemic transition reported stronger resilience in their children. These results highlight the importance of supporting all children and parents during difficult transitions (e.g., providing additional resources so that parents can maintain similar levels of balance and support through the transition), including those students who have experienced less adversity pre-transition.

The 6 A's model of social worker associations and COVID-19: A preliminary insight

This paper offers the 6 A's model of social worker associations and COVID-19, which includes (i) 'Apprehend', (ii) 'act', (iii) 'advocate', (iv) 'alliance', (v) 'an emphasis on solidarity and resilience' and (vi) 'a future prospect'. The model is based on the findings of qualitative analysis of social worker associations' reports on COVID-19. It also offers insights that can be utilised in similar crises in the future.

Innovative technology-enhanced social work service during COVID-19: How 'Garden on the Balcony' promoted resilience, community bonds and a green lifestyle

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has motivated social workers to reckon with and transform traditions in service delivery. The development, application, and evaluation of technology-enhanced practices have become more vital than ever. Garden on the Balcony (GOB) was an innovative internet-based social work service designed to respond rapidly to the COVID-19 outbreak in Beijing. This paper introduces the underlying perspectives and design of GOB and reports participants' reflections on the program to understand its mechanisms and implications. Interview data from GOB participants were collected 4 months after the program ended. Thematic analysis generated three major themes, suggesting that GOB had (a) promoted individual resilience and family cohesion;(b) built online and offline community bonds;and (c) cultivated a green lifestyle and spiritual reflection on life. This study demonstrates a practical example of the effective use of technology-enhanced practice.

Student resilience to COVID-19-related school disruptions: The value of historic school engagement

Does historic school engagement buffer the threats of disrupted schooling – such as those associated with the widespread COVID-19-related school closures – to school engagement equally for female and male high school students? This article responds to that pressing question. To do so, it reports a study that was conducted in 2018 and 2020 with the same sample of South African students (n = 172;66.30% female;average age in 2020: 18.13). A moderated moderation model of the 2018 and 2020 data showed that historic levels of school engagement buffered the negative effects of disrupted schooling on subsequent school engagement (R ² =.43, β = −5.09, p <.05). This protective effect was significant for girl students at moderate and high levels of historic school engagement, but not at lower levels of historic school engagement. Disrupted schooling did not significantly affect school engagement for male students at any level of historic school engagement. In addition, student perceptions of teacher kindness were associated with higher school engagement and having experienced an adverse event at school with lower school engagement. The results point to the importance of facilitating school engagement and enabling school environments – also when schooling is disrupted.

Preliminary evaluation of a multicomponent youth development program for siblings separated by foster care: pandemic related impacts to service delivery and youth well-being

A preliminary evaluation of a multicomponent youth development program for siblings in foster care was conducted prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pretest posttest measures of youth well-being were collected from sixteen youth, caregivers, and caseworkers over a six-month period. Caregivers reported increased internalizing and externalizing behaviors, sibling relationship difficulties, prosocial behavior, and resilience during the study period. Youth reported reduced school engagement, increased resilience, and prosocial behavior. In-person sibling programming was associated with increased prosocial behavior. Virtual sibling programming was associated with lower hyperactivity, increased prosocial behavior, and increased emotional problems. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

Cancer nurses have experienced ‘moral injury' due to the pandemic

First, a Happy New Year to you all. I hope you enjoyed the festive break. In this issue, our cover article (evidence and practice, page 21) explains how emotional labour can lead to exhaustion and burnout, which contributes to a high turnover in the nursing workforce. It examines the differences in resilience and coping strategies of less experienced nurses compared with their more experienced counterparts.

Social service providers under COVID-19 duress: adaptation, burnout, and resilience

Summary : This article examines the response of social services organizations and their workers to the COVID-19 pandemic in a northeastern U.S. state. Using an exploratory, cross-sectional survey design with a convenience sample (N = 1472), we ask: (1) how did agencies and social service workers manage service disruptions associated with COVID-19;(2) how did social service workers perceive shifts in clients' needs;(3) how did social service workers experience the transition to remote interactions with clients;and (4) how did social service workers cope with COVID-related transitions and demands. Findings : Our findings tell a story of unprecedented crises alongside powerful attempts at adaptation, innovation, and resilience. Faced with extraordinary need among their clients, fears for their own health, and a breakdown of organizational and community functioning and guidance, social workers were able to learn and implement new technologies, adapt to increasing demands, manage new work-life boundaries, and find ways to address gaps in service while experiencing symptoms of burnout. Application : The impact of supervisory and administrative fragmentation and communication breakdowns in the face of crisis put social workers in an untenable position despite surprising abilities to adapt, innovate, and manage their professional lives while under duress. Assuring better supervisory/administrative infrastructure to support workers as they deliver services during crises will help in future crises.