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Browsing by Author "Tunçgenç, Bahar"
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Item Digital contact does not promote wellbeing, but face-to-face contact does: A cross-national survey during the COVID-19 pandemic(Sage, 2021) Newson, Martha; Zhao, Yi; Zein, Marwa El; Sulik, Justin; Dezecache, Guillaume; Deroy, Ophelia; Tunçgenç, Bahar; Biostatistics, School of Public HealthWith restricted face-to-face interactions, COVID-19 lockdowns and distancing measures tested the capability of computer-mediated communication to foster social contact and wellbeing. In a multinational sample (n = 6436), we investigated how different modes of contact related to wellbeing during the pandemic. Computer-mediated communication was more common than face-to-face, and its use was influenced by COVID-19 death rates, more so than state stringency measures. Despite its legal and health threats, face-to-face contact was still positively associated with wellbeing, and messaging apps had a negative association. Perceived household vulnerability to COVID-19 reduced the positive effect of face-to-face communication on wellbeing, but surprisingly, people’s own vulnerability did not. Computer-mediated communication was particularly negatively associated with the wellbeing of young and empathetic people. Findings show people endeavored to remain socially connected, yet however, maintain a physical distance, despite the tangible costs to their wellbeing.Item Trust in science boosts approval, but not following of COVID-19 rules(2021-03) Sulik, Justin; Deroy, Ophelia; Dezecache, Guillaume; Newson, Martha; Zhao, Yi; El Zein, Marwa; Tunçgenç, Bahar; Biostatistics, School of Public HealthHow essential is trust in science to prevent the spread of COVID-19? Previous work shows that people who trust in science are more likely to comply with official guidelines, which suggests that higher levels of compliance could be achieved by improving trust in science. However, analysis of a global dataset (n=4341) suggests otherwise. Trust in science had a small, indirect effect on adherence to the rules. It affected adherence only insofar as it predicted people's approval of prevention measures such as social distancing. Trust in science also mediated the relationship between political ideology and approval of the measures (more conservative people trusted science less and in turn approved of the measures less). These effects varied across countries, and were especially different in the USA. Overall, these results mean that any increase in trust in science is unlikely to yield strong immediate improvements in following COVID-19 rules. Nonetheless, given its relationships with both ideology and individuals' attitudes to the measures, trust in science may be leveraged to yield longer-term and more sustained social benefits.