Symposium
Perspectives from applied and clinical psychology on COVID-19
Céline Douilliez (1) and Maarten Vansteenkiste (2)
(1) UCLouvain; (2) UGent
In just a few months, the COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted the lives of citizens living in Belgium and around the world, affecting not only their physical health but also their mental health and well-being. Necessary containment measures have been put in place and have been followed to varying degrees by the population. Those measures have also profoundly changed the way mental health professionals deliver their care.
Applied and clinical psychology have a crucial role to play in better understanding individual differences in adherence to containment measures, in identifying people at risk of developing mental health problems, and in developing and disseminating evidence-based online interventions in this pandemic context. In this symposium, the results of four ongoing studies in Belgium addressing this challenge will be presented and discussed.
Applied and clinical psychology have a crucial role to play in better understanding individual differences in adherence to containment measures, in identifying people at risk of developing mental health problems, and in developing and disseminating evidence-based online interventions in this pandemic context. In this symposium, the results of four ongoing studies in Belgium addressing this challenge will be presented and discussed.
Speaker 1: Long-term compliance with the lockdown measures in Belgium: The critical role of voluntary motivation
Sofie Morbée (1), Joachim Waterschoot (1), Branko Vermote (1), Bart Soenens (1) and Maarten Vansteenkiste (1)
(1) UGent
Objectives: To limit the spreading of the SARS-CoV-2-virus, governments world-wide have introduced much-needed, yet very intrusive measures, the adherence of which requires considerable effort from their citizens. To sustain their efforts in following these measures, it is critical that citizens stay optimally motivated, as reflected by their full ownership or internalization of the measures.
Method: The present, unique 6-week motivation barometer study conducted during the entire lockdown period in Belgium involves both the daily influx of new cohorts of Belgian participants (N = 23 845; 74% female) and the longitudinal follow-up of a subsample of citizens that had participated in the first week of the lockdown. Grounded in Self-Determination Theory, we sought to examine the predictive validity of individuals’ well-internalized, autonomous motivation to adhere to the measures, when compared to their poorly internalized and non-internalized forms of controlled motivation, both concurrently and over time.
Results: Controlling for citizen’s felt uncertainty and symptoms of anxiety, well-internalized (but not poorly internalized) motivation was a significant positive predictor of citizens’ concurrent adherence to the measures. By the time of the conference, longitudinal analyses will be conducted to examine whether shifts in citizens’ motivation types across time relate to the maintenance or drop in their measurement adherence. Finally, mediational analyses will be conducted to examine whether elderly’s higher adherence to the measures can be accounted for by their elevated presence of well-internalized motivation.
Conclusions: The findings suggest that policy makers do well to adopt a motivating style that fosters internalized motivation.
Method: The present, unique 6-week motivation barometer study conducted during the entire lockdown period in Belgium involves both the daily influx of new cohorts of Belgian participants (N = 23 845; 74% female) and the longitudinal follow-up of a subsample of citizens that had participated in the first week of the lockdown. Grounded in Self-Determination Theory, we sought to examine the predictive validity of individuals’ well-internalized, autonomous motivation to adhere to the measures, when compared to their poorly internalized and non-internalized forms of controlled motivation, both concurrently and over time.
Results: Controlling for citizen’s felt uncertainty and symptoms of anxiety, well-internalized (but not poorly internalized) motivation was a significant positive predictor of citizens’ concurrent adherence to the measures. By the time of the conference, longitudinal analyses will be conducted to examine whether shifts in citizens’ motivation types across time relate to the maintenance or drop in their measurement adherence. Finally, mediational analyses will be conducted to examine whether elderly’s higher adherence to the measures can be accounted for by their elevated presence of well-internalized motivation.
Conclusions: The findings suggest that policy makers do well to adopt a motivating style that fosters internalized motivation.
Speaker 2: Exploratory study on the impact of COVID-19 outbreak on
the well-being, work, and work-related social interactions of PhD Students in Belgium
the well-being, work, and work-related social interactions of PhD Students in Belgium
Martina D’Agostini (1), Giorgia Carra (1), Marta Walentynowicz (1,2) and Johan W.S. Vlaeyen (1,3)
(1) KU Leuven; (2) UCLouvain; (3) Maastricht University, NL
Objectives: The outbreak of COVID-19 around the world led to the introduction of several restriction measures, including social distancing and the lock-down of research facilities. Whereas social distancing is effective to slow-down the spread of a pandemic, it strongly affects the social and working life of individuals. This project focuses on the impact of COVID-19 on the mental well-being, work productivity, and work-related social interactions of PhD students population at KU Leuven. Since around 50% of PhD population at KU Leuven is international, we also investigate the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on social support and risk of stigmatization of certain groups due to their nationality.
Method: About 1000 PhD students at KU Leuven completed an online survey in the period between 25/4 and 3/5. This survey is a great opportunity to examine the concerns that PhD students experience in response to COVID-19 and the measures taken by the Belgian government and the university board to limit the spread of this virus.
Implications: Based on this information, we hope to provide KU Leuven and the scientific community with valuable information, which can be further used to improve the actions directed towards minimizing the impact of this pandemic on the PhD student population.
Method: About 1000 PhD students at KU Leuven completed an online survey in the period between 25/4 and 3/5. This survey is a great opportunity to examine the concerns that PhD students experience in response to COVID-19 and the measures taken by the Belgian government and the university board to limit the spread of this virus.
Implications: Based on this information, we hope to provide KU Leuven and the scientific community with valuable information, which can be further used to improve the actions directed towards minimizing the impact of this pandemic on the PhD student population.
Speaker 3: Changes in alcohol-consumption during the COVID-19 lockdown : the role of contextual and psychological factors
Arthur Pabst (1), Zoé Bollen (1), Coralie Creupeleandt (1), Sullivan Fontesse (1),
Nicolas Pinon (1,2), Martin De Duve (1), Thomas Orban (3) and Pierre Maurage (1)
Nicolas Pinon (1,2), Martin De Duve (1), Thomas Orban (3) and Pierre Maurage (1)
(1) UCLouvain; (2) Haute Ecole Leonard de Vinci, Brussels; (3) Société Scientifique de Médecine Générale, Brussels
Objectives: Concerns regarding the possible effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on alcohol consumption have been voiced very soon after the introduction of the lockdown measures. Some researchers have notably predicted spikes in alcohol use and misuse in response to the stress -and the restriction of usual ways to cope with it- generated by the current situation. Given that such an increase in consumption may have profound public health implications, it is important to investigate changes in alcohol use empirically.
Method: To this end, we conducted an online survey among 11000 French-speaking Belgians. Respondents estimated their weekly alcohol consumption before and after lockdown onset, and answered a series of questions on relevant socio-demographic, contextual, social, emotional and motivational variables.
Results: Our results centrally show that, although 28% of the respondents reported having increased their consumption, there was a slight decrease in self-reported alcohol use overall, with about 40% of participants reporting no change and a third even reporting a reduction. We further identified significant contextual and psychological predictors of increase/decrease.
Conclusions: These results call for nuance in messages addressed to the general population and may point toward potentially useful strategies to mitigate the impact of confinement on alcohol consumption for those at risk.
Method: To this end, we conducted an online survey among 11000 French-speaking Belgians. Respondents estimated their weekly alcohol consumption before and after lockdown onset, and answered a series of questions on relevant socio-demographic, contextual, social, emotional and motivational variables.
Results: Our results centrally show that, although 28% of the respondents reported having increased their consumption, there was a slight decrease in self-reported alcohol use overall, with about 40% of participants reporting no change and a third even reporting a reduction. We further identified significant contextual and psychological predictors of increase/decrease.
Conclusions: These results call for nuance in messages addressed to the general population and may point toward potentially useful strategies to mitigate the impact of confinement on alcohol consumption for those at risk.
Speaker 4: Online consultations by mental healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic
Tom Van Daele (1,2), Sylvie Bernaerts (1), Eva Van Assche (1), Sam Willems (1), Angélique Belmont (2) and Nele A.J. De Witte (1)
(1) Thomas More; (2) European Federation of Psychologists’ Associations
Objectives: Online consultations by mental healthcare professionals surge globally as a means to overcome the quarantine measures imposed in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. A survey by the Project Group on eHealth of the European Federation of Psychologists’ Associations explored online consultations’ current usage and common questions and concerns. This presentation is based on a preliminary analysis of the quantitative Belgian data.
Method: Five hundred fifty-six mental healthcare professionals, of which 459 psychologists, completed a survey on past experience with online consultations, their motivations for (not) using online consultations based on the Unified Theory on Acceptance and Use of Technology, and provided qualitative input on questions and concerns.
Results: Results showed that 23 percent had some experience with online consultations prior to the outbreak. During the outbreak, 75 percent relied on telephonic consultations at some point, whereas 87 percent made use of online consultations. Seven percent of professionals relying on online consultations received some prior training. The main reasons for professionals using online consultations (N=484) to do so, were ‘the necessity from a public health perspective’ (86%) and ‘wanting to be available for clients who could otherwise not attend appointments’ (70%). Professionals not making use of online consultations (N=72) mostly quoted lack of effectiveness (39%), absence of client interest (38%) and lack of appropriate hard- or software (29%).
Conclusions: In conclusion, the majority of respondents made use of online consultations, primarily in the interest of their clients. In order to do so, almost all relied on their knowledge and expertise from conventional practice.
Method: Five hundred fifty-six mental healthcare professionals, of which 459 psychologists, completed a survey on past experience with online consultations, their motivations for (not) using online consultations based on the Unified Theory on Acceptance and Use of Technology, and provided qualitative input on questions and concerns.
Results: Results showed that 23 percent had some experience with online consultations prior to the outbreak. During the outbreak, 75 percent relied on telephonic consultations at some point, whereas 87 percent made use of online consultations. Seven percent of professionals relying on online consultations received some prior training. The main reasons for professionals using online consultations (N=484) to do so, were ‘the necessity from a public health perspective’ (86%) and ‘wanting to be available for clients who could otherwise not attend appointments’ (70%). Professionals not making use of online consultations (N=72) mostly quoted lack of effectiveness (39%), absence of client interest (38%) and lack of appropriate hard- or software (29%).
Conclusions: In conclusion, the majority of respondents made use of online consultations, primarily in the interest of their clients. In order to do so, almost all relied on their knowledge and expertise from conventional practice.
