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Challenges for Health Inequalities Research during COVID-19 Pandemic
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Challenges for Health Inequalities Research during COVID-19 Pandemic

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2023) | Viewed by 8642

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Joanna Mazur

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Humanization in Medicine and Sexology, Collegium Medicum, University of Zielona Gora, 65-726 Zielona Gora, Poland
Interests: adolescent health; health disparities and socioeconomic status; health & place; psychosocial determinants of health; health literacy; risk behaviour; physical activity and school health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Dorota Kleszczewska

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Mother and Child Foundation, 01-211 Warsaw, Poland
Interests: adolescents’ well-being; health literacy; youth engagement; school stress; neighborhood; physical activity
Dr. Maria Lukaszek

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Resocialisation Pedagogy, Institute of Pedagogy, University of Rzeszow, 35-959 Rzeszow, Poland
Interests: sexuality in the context of social maladjustment; risky sexual behaviours (sexual violence; participation in sex work; early sexual activity; sexual behaviours under the influence of psychoactive substances); attitudes towards HIV/AIDS; sexual crime; partners' relations in intimate relationships; ethics of social research in the field of human sexuality

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

During the COVID-19 pandemic, risk factors for the deterioration of physical and mental health associated with financial insecurity, unemployment and anxiety increased. At the same time, protective factors such as health-promoting lifestyles, social bonds, stable employment, educational engagement, and access to health services decreased. Many research centres have initiated surveys covering the general population, selected demographic subpopulations, and occupational groups that have been identified in relation to their infection risk or hampered living or working conditions. It is assumed that the pandemic period may have exacerbated health inequalities, with certain groups being more vulnerable to both its short- and long-term effects.

New research papers, as well as scoping or systematic reviews, are invited for submission to this Special Issue. Results from longitudinal, cross-sectional, or repeated cross-sectional studies are also welcome. There are no restrictions as to the main health outcome or studied population. The only inclusion criterion is to take into account some aspect of health inequality, and consider the new challenges that may have arisen during or after the pandemic period, for example, studies might discuss differences related to region, gender, age, or staying in close relationships in relation to living, working, or educational conditions.

Prof. Dr. Joanna Mazur
Dr. Dorota Kleszczewska
Dr. Maria Lukaszek
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • COVID-19
  • educational inequalities
  • health inequalities
  • intersectionality
  • social epidemiology
  • vulnerable groups
  • working conditions

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 1457 KiB  
Article
Meanings and Experiences of Prisoners and Family Members Affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Brazilian Prison Unit: A Grounded Theory Analysis
by Wanessa Cristina Baccon, Maria Aparecida Salci, Lígia Carreira, Adriana Martins Gallo, Francielle Renata Danielli Martins Marques, Marcelle Paiano, Vanessa Denardi Antoniassi Baldissera and Carlos Laranjeira
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(15), 6488; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20156488 - 1 Aug 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1791
Abstract
Worldwide, the COVID-19 pandemic represented a health emergency for prisons. This study sought to understand the meanings and experiences through the narratives of prisoners and family members affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in the context of a maximum-security state penitentiary complex in southern [...] Read more.
Worldwide, the COVID-19 pandemic represented a health emergency for prisons. This study sought to understand the meanings and experiences through the narratives of prisoners and family members affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in the context of a maximum-security state penitentiary complex in southern Brazil. For this purpose, a qualitative study was developed based on the methodological framework of constructivist grounded theory. Data were collected between February and August 2022 through individual in-depth interviews and field notes. The sample consisted of 41 participants: 28 male prisoners, and 13 family members. Guided by the Charmaz method of grounded theory analysis, the study afforded the core category “Feeling trapped in prison during the COVID-19 pandemic” with three interrelated phases: “Triggering”, “Escalating”, and “Readjustment”. The “Triggering” phase refers to COVID-19-related elements or events that triggered certain reactions, processes, or changes in prison. During the “Escalating” phase, participants became overwhelmed by the suffering caused by incarceration and the pandemic crisis. The “Readjustment” phase involved adapting, reorienting, or reformulating previous approaches or strategies for dealing with a specific situation. Prisons faced complex challenges during the pandemic and were forced to prioritize protecting public health. However, the measures adopted must be carefully evaluated, ensuring their needs and that they are based on scientific evidence. The punitive approach can undermine inmate trust in prison authorities, making it difficult to report symptoms and adhere to preventive measures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges for Health Inequalities Research during COVID-19 Pandemic)
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15 pages, 396 KiB  
Article
Socioeconomic Deprivation and Inequalities in Mental Well-Being during the COVID-19 Pandemic among Adolescents
by Helena Jeriček Klanšček and Lucija Furman
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(13), 6233; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20136233 - 27 Jun 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1955
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the existing inequalities in education and mental health. The aim of this study was to examine socioeconomic disadvantages and mental well-being inequalities among Slovenian adolescents in October 2020. The study used nationally representative data from 3052 adolescents aged 14 [...] Read more.
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the existing inequalities in education and mental health. The aim of this study was to examine socioeconomic disadvantages and mental well-being inequalities among Slovenian adolescents in October 2020. The study used nationally representative data from 3052 adolescents aged 14 and 18 (Mage = 14.4 and 18.4). The WHO-5 Well-Being Index (WHO-5) was used to measure mental well-being and risk for depression. Multinomial logistic regression was used to identify differences in the pattern of associations regarding sociodemographic characteristics and experiences during the pandemic with poor well-being and risk for depression. Our study found that adolescents from socially disadvantaged families faced poorer conditions as regards academic performance, had fewer opportunities to socialise with friends online, and were more likely to feel lonely; they reported lower levels of mental well-being and were at a higher risk for depression. The unemployment of both parents and adolescents’ perceptions of family wealth were found to be the most important predictors of depression risk. In addition, experiencing deprivation and economic hardship during the pandemic was also identified as a significant predictor. The study concludes that social and economic conditions were critical determinants of adolescents’ mental health during the pandemic and that effective intervention is needed to promote their well-being and reduce inequalities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges for Health Inequalities Research during COVID-19 Pandemic)
10 pages, 468 KiB  
Article
Ergonomics of E-Learning Workstations and the Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorders—Study among University Students
by Magdalena Janc, Zbigniew Jozwiak, Agnieszka Jankowska, Teresa Makowiec-Dabrowska, Jolanta Kujawa and Kinga Polanska
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(4), 3309; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20043309 - 14 Feb 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2464
Abstract
The prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) has increased significantly in recent years. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a fundamental change in the lifestyles, ways of learning and working patterns of the general population, which in turn, might lead to health consequences. The [...] Read more.
The prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) has increased significantly in recent years. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a fundamental change in the lifestyles, ways of learning and working patterns of the general population, which in turn, might lead to health consequences. The aim of this study was to evaluate the conditions of e-learning and the impact of the learning modality on the occurrence of musculoskeletal symptoms among university students in Poland. This cross-sectional study included 914 students who completed an anonymous questionnaire. The questions covered two time periods (before and during the COVID-19 pandemic) and were aimed at obtaining information about lifestyle (including physical activity using the modified International Physical Activity Questionnaire, 2007 (IPAQ), perceived stress and sleep patterns), the ergonomics of computer workstations (by Rapid Office Strain Assessment, 2012 (ROSA) method), the incidence and severity of musculoskeletal symptoms (by the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, 2018 (NMQ)) and headaches. The main differences between the two periods were statistically significant according to the Wilcoxon test in terms of physical activity, computer use time, and severity of headaches. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a significant increase in MSD (68.2% vs. 74.6%) and their intensity (2.83 ± 2.36 vs. 3.50 ± 2.79 points) among the student population (p < 0.001). In the group of students with MSD, there was a high musculoskeletal load, due to the lack of ergonomic remote learning workstations. In future, a thorough study should be carried out, and there is an urgent need to raise students’ awareness of arranging learning workstations according to ergonomic principles in order to prevent the occurrence of musculoskeletal problems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges for Health Inequalities Research during COVID-19 Pandemic)
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20 pages, 1260 KiB  
Article
Pandemic-Related Stress and Other Emotional Difficulties in a Sample of Men and Women Living in Romantic Relationships during the COVID-19 Pandemic
by Alicja Kozakiewicz, Zbigniew Izdebski, Maciej Białorudzki and Joanna Mazur
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(4), 2988; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20042988 - 8 Feb 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1685
Abstract
This study examined the extent to which relationship quality affects variability in perceived stress and other emotional difficulties associated with the pandemic. The study was conducted 2–17 March 2022 using a self-administered online survey. The sample size consisted of 1405 individuals who were [...] Read more.
This study examined the extent to which relationship quality affects variability in perceived stress and other emotional difficulties associated with the pandemic. The study was conducted 2–17 March 2022 using a self-administered online survey. The sample size consisted of 1405 individuals who were in a romantic relationship. The scales used in the study included the PSS-4, ECR-RS, SLS-12 and the standardized Pandemic-ED scale (RMSEA = 0.032). Increased stress levels (U = −5.741), pandemic-related emotional difficulties (U = −8.720), worse romantic relationship quality (U = −2.564) and more frequent anxiety-related attachment (U = −3.371) were characteristic of women. A hierarchical regression model for stress showed that age (b = −0.143), financial situation (b = 0.024), the ECR-RS scores (b = 0.219) and pandemic-related emotional difficulties (b = 0.358) proved to be statistically significant predictors of stress. The hierarchical regression model for pandemic-related emotional difficulties indicated five predictors: gender (b = 0.166), education (b = 0.071), financial situation (b = 0.203), scores on the ECR-RS scale (b = 0.048) and stress (b = 0.367). The SEM model used has satisfactory fit indices (RMSEA = 0.051), romantic relationship quality scores and attachment styles interact with the variability of perceived pandemic-related stress and burdens. The determined model offers conclusions relevant to clinicians working with individuals and couples during periods of intense stress. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges for Health Inequalities Research during COVID-19 Pandemic)
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