The Covid-10 pandemic has seen the world crumble as various countries declared themselves under the state of emergence and closed their borders. Thus, harsh restriction measures were introduced in the middle to end the Covid-19 pandemic. Aim: This study analyses hospitality managers' experience with the socio-economic consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic. Methodology: The researcher used qualitative techniques in conjecture with pragmatism as a philosophical position to understand the manager's experience during the Covid-19 pandemic. Semi-structured interviews were employed to acquire data from 10 hospitality managers in Cape Town )South Africa). The implication of the study: The study will add a gap to the existing body of literature and provide hospitality managers with vital information on how to handle situations when they are in a crisis and on how they can be able to remain resilient.

The study explored the perceptions of social workers on loneliness among elderly people in residential care facilities in Gävle and Stockholm, Sweden, during the COVID-19 Pandemic.  An exploratory qualitative study method was used. Four social workers working with elderly people in residential care facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic participated in the study. Data were gathered for the study using an interview guide, and thematic analysis was used to analyze them. The study’s results were captured in two main themes which reflect the study’s research questions: social workers' perception of loneliness, and elderly people’s experiences of loneliness. According to social workers, the study concluded that loneliness is a multifaceted, subjective feeling that can trigger many coping methods and severely impact older people's health. In order to combat loneliness among older persons as a public health issue, social workers believe that a stronger involvement of the entire society is required.

The COVID-19 pandemic greatly altered the ways in which families could engage in youth sport and physical activity (SPA). These forced changes might have implications for families’ preferences and conceptualization of value of youth SPA post-pandemic. Therefore, the purpose of this dissertation was to understand the impacts of a global pandemic (i.e., COVID-19) on youth SPA by exploring consumers’ (i.e., families in the Ontario) experiences with youth SPA, and examining if and how preferences for returning to SPA might be shifting and affecting perceptions of value post-pandemic. This dissertation was guided by Social Ecology Theory (i.e., behaviour is a function of the sociocultural and built environment) and consumer behaviour theory (e.g., disconfirmation paradigm; if expectations are met or exceeded, consumers will be satisfied). A collective case study methodology with an exploratory mixed-methods design was employed. First, focus group interviews were conducted with families in Ontario (n=14) followed by semi-structured interviews with youth sport providers in Ontario (n=12) to understand these groups’ experiences with youth SPA during the pandemic and post-pandemic intentions. Finally, for generalizability, questionnaires were administered to parents in Ontario (n=550) to assess families’ experiences with, preferences for, and conceptualization of value of youth SPA pre, during, and post-pandemic. Overall, families experienced decreases in youth SPA in all contexts considered (i.e., organized SPA, non-organized SPA, travel for SPA, diversity of SPA). However, the way families felt about these changes (i.e., satisfaction) varied. Families’ socioecological circumstances and their satisfaction with the changes to their youth SPA during the pandemic shaped their preferences and conceptualizations of value for youth SPA post-pandemic. While the forced changes to youth SPA contributed to reconceptualization of value for families with means and access to participation opportunities, families without these means were, and are likely to continue to struggle to access youth SPA opportunities.

Public health concerns were prominent during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly regarding rising cases of anxiety and depression among adults. U.S. healthcare providers were especially affected by the unrelenting demands on their time and service. Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPs) provided patient care during the pandemic to meet the increasing need for mental health services as people began experiencing mood disturbances such as anxiety, depression, and grief. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perceived effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of PMHNPs. A qualitative design using the interpretive description method allows researchers to use pre-existing knowledge to inform their research and actively participate in knowledge synthesis, focusing on variations in data. Individual interviews with 18 PMHNPs were conducted via video teleconferencing, and their data were evaluated and interpreted for meaning. After a thorough analysis of the interview transcripts, nine themes were identified: adaptive coping, improved access, support, self-care, work strain, complications, maladaptive coping, pandemic strain, and polarization. This study illuminated the challenges PMHNPs faced during the pandemic and the strategies they employed to cope with difficulties and will inform future research and practice in mental health care.

Social emotional learning (SEL), prevalent since the 1960's, is intended to meet the needs of the whole child (Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning [CASEL], n.d.). Over the last three years, the effects of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic infiltrated society, and stressors during the pandemic created challenges for families and educators. At the beginning of the pandemic, students were disconnected physically from schools, and depending on the resources of schools and families, students had various modalities to connect with school. Extracurricular activities ceased at the beginning of the pandemic, and students lost access to mental health support, all impacting the SEL needs of students. As students returned to school in person, the SEL needs of students increased, and principals were faced with finding resources and strategies to meet those needs. Several research studies exist on the impacts of various models of SEL and trauma-informed practices, but there is little research on administrator perceptions of SEL. The purpose of this qualitative research study was to identify elementary school principal perceptions on the SEL needs of students, aligned to the CASEL framework, during the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify the resources and strategies needed and used to meet the SEL needs of students. Eight elementary school principals from one suburban school division in Virginia were interviewed. Elementary school principals reported environmental factors that may have increased self-management and relationship skill deficits for students. Using a variety of resources and strategies, elementary school principals have seen improvement in SEL needs of students when staff explicitly teach SEL. Elementary school principals desire more resources to meet the SEL needs of students but are faced with funding challenges and a lack of qualified candidates. To meet the SEL needs of students, it is recommended that school divisions work with local, state, and federal funding sources, as well as universities and colleges to provide additional support and resources. It is a moral imperative of elementary school principals to demand more support to meet the SEL needs of elementary students. / Doctor of Education / The purpose of this qualitative research study was to identify elementary school principal perceptions on the social emotional learning (SEL) needs of students, aligned to the CASEL framework, during the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify the resources and strategies needed and used to meet the SEL needs of students. The COVID-19 pandemic brought on sickness, death, anxiety, and depression while educational and family structures changed. Schools closed physically in the beginning of the pandemic, impacting the connectivity of students with one another and with teachers. Additionally, extracurricular activities ceased for some time, and students did not have the same consistent access to medical or mental health providers, all impacting the mental well-being of children. Families were also impacted economically and socially by the pandemic. As students returned to school in person, educators were challenged to meet the SEL needs of students during the COVID-19 pandemic. This research study investigated elementary principal perceptions on the SEL needs of students and examined the resources and strategies needed and used to support the SEL needs of students. Eight elementary school principals were interviewed from one suburban school division in Virginia. The elementary school principals reported an increase in the SEL needs of students and described a variety of resources and strategies used to support the SEL needs. While SEL needs are improving when elementary school principals and school staff focus resources and strategies to improve SEL deficits, the elementary school principals reported needing more resources to meet the SEL needs of students. Elementary school principals described challenges in funding and a lack of qualified candidates. To lessen those challenges, elementary school principals should demand more resources through local, state, and federal agencies to support the SEL needs of students.

This thesis seeks to explore if and how college students' dating practices have changed amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Through eight focus group interviews (n=51), participants discussed their dating practices, use of online dating platforms, and navigation of health and safety protocols. A thematic analysis was used to identify and define major themes from the focus groups. Findings revealed four themes in how college students define dating, which were relational investment, exclusivity labels, dating progression, and the role of hookup culture. When addressing how the pandemic has changed the way college students date, six themes were identified: importance of communication, technology as a tool, impact of family, violating safety norms, negative affect expression, and gaining perspective. This thesis extends academic research on how dating is defined and how uncertainty in the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted dating practices of college students at a large U.S. university in the mid-Atlantic region. / MACOM / This thesis explores the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on college students dating practices. It uses focus group interviews of undergraduate college students at a large university in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Participants discussed their definition of 'dating,' use of technology and dating apps, and navigation of health and safety practices during a dating climate characterized by high uncertainty. Findings revealed four themes in how college students define dating, which were relational investment, exclusivity labels, dating progression, and the role of hookup culture. When addressing how the pandemic has changed the way college students date, six themes were identified: importance of communication, technology as a tool, impact of family, violating safety norms, negative affect expression, and gaining perspective. These findings have implications in how we understand dating, especially during a global health crisis.

Yes / This study contributes to the existing literature on the relationship between oil market shocks and the green bond market by investigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their dynamic correlation. We first decompose the oil market shocks into components using a time-frequency framework. Then, we combine wavelet decomposition and quantile coherence and causality methods to discuss changes during the COVID-19 era. We observe positive effects of both supply-driven and demand-driven oil shocks on the green bond market at most quantile levels. However, supply-driven oil price changes play a major role. The results also indicate that long-term changes have a greater impact than short-term changes on the connection between oil and green bond markets. Nevertheless, the COVID-19 pandemic changed the nature of the causal relationship, as we observed no relationship under extreme market conditions during the pandemic era. We argue that the economic and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have left investors focusing on the short-term substitution between oil and green bond markets. / This research was supported by the Major Projects of the National Natural Science Fund of China [NO. 71991483], the Natural Science Fund of Hunan Province [NO. 2022JJ40647] and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of Central South University [NO. 2022ZZTS0353]. / The full-text of this article will be released for public view at the end of the publisher embargo on 06 Oct 2024.

Inom elitidrott beskrivs motivation som något essentiellt för att idrottare ska orka träna och göra det som krävs för att försöka bli bäst i världen. Motivation kan undersökas med hjälp av Self-determination theory där tre grundbehov: autonomi, tillhörighet och kompetens, måste vara uppfyllda för att en inre självbestämmande motivation ska kunna uppnås. Syftet med denna studie var att ta reda på hur elitidrottares motivation förändrades under våren och sommaren 2020 när Covid-19 pandemin satte idrottsvärlden på paus med inställda tävlingar och ett uppskjutet OS. Sju semistrukturerade intervjuer med individuella elitidrottare genomfördes och analyserades med en teoristyrd tematisk analys. Studien kom fram till att elitidrottarna upplevde att deras grundbehov inom motivation påverkades, både positivt och negativt, av Covid-19 pandemin. Studien bidrar till ökad förståelse för elitidrottares behov under pandemin och inom vilka områden de behöver extra stöd. / In elite sports, motivation is described as an essential factor an athlete must have to undergo training and to do what is required to become the world’s best. Motivation can be examined using the Self-determination theory, where three basic needs: autonomy, relatedness and competence must be fulfilled to achieve intrinsic self-determined motivation. The purpose of this study was to investigate how motivation of elite athletes changed during the spring and summer 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic put the sports world on paus with cancelled competitions and the postponement of the Olympics. Seven semi-structured interviews with elite athletes, competing in individual sports, were conducted, and analysed with a theoretical thematic analysis. This study concluded that the basic needs in motivation of elite athletes were experienced to be both positively and negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The study contributes to an increased understanding of the needs of elite athletes during the pandemic and in which areas they need extra support.

Bakgrund: Sedan december 2019 har ett nytt virus, som orsakar sjukdomen Covid-19, spridits världen över och för att minska smittspridning har restriktioner införts i samhället och vården. Detta innebär att partners inte får delta vid exempelvis besök på barnmorskemottagningar, ultraljud eller närvara på BB efter förlossningen. Partners delaktighet är viktig under graviditet och barnafödande för att främja föräldratransitionen och anknytningen till barnet, vilket försvårats under pandemin. Det är därför av vikt att undersöka partners upplevelse under Covid-19-pandemin. Syfte: Syftet var att belysa partners upplevelse av graviditet och barnafödande under Covid-19-pandemin. Metod: Studien genomfördes med kvalitativ innehållsanalys med induktiv ansats, där åtta partners intervjuades. Resultat: I resultatet framkom fyra kategorier som sedan mynnade ut i ett tema. Samtliga partners uppgav bristande delaktighet. Förstagångsföräldrarna upplevde en stark negativ påverkan av den bristande delaktigheten vilket resulterade i känslor av utanförskap och en svårighet att förverkliga graviditeten. Andragångsföräldrar upplevde en större trygghet i föräldraskapet vilket ökade förmågan att hantera den bristande delaktigheten. Konklusion: Beslutsfattare bör väga smittorisken mot de negativa effekterna som uppstår av restriktionerna. Det krävs förändringar för att främja partnerns delaktighet och motverka långsiktiga negativa konsekvenser på hälsan för partners och deras familjer. / Background: Since December 2019, a new virus, which causes Covid-19 disease, has spread around the world and to reduce the spread of infection, restrictions have been introduced in society and healthcare. This entails that partners are not allowed to participate in, for example; visits to midwife clinics, ultrasounds or attend BB postpartum. Partner participation during pregnancy and childbirth is important to promote the transition to parenthood and connection to the child, which is made more difficult during the pandemic. It is therefore important to examine partners' experiences during the Covid-19 pandemic. Aim: The aim was to illustrate the partners' experience of pregnancy and childbirth during the Covid-19 pandemic. Method: The study was conducted with a qualitative content analysis with an inductive approach. Eight partners were interviewed. Results: The results revealed four categories which then culminated in a theme. All partners stated a lack of participation. The first-time parents experienced a strong negative impact of the lack of participation, which resulted in feelings of exclusion and a difficulty in actualizing the pregnancy. Second-time parents experienced greater security in parenthood, which increased the ability to handle the lack of participation. Conclusion: Decision-makers should consider weigh the risk of infection against the negative effects of restrictions. Changes are needed to promote partner participation and counteract long-term negative health consequences for partners and their families.

More than ten years after the largest economic crisis, which stroke the European Union in 2008 and thoroughly tested its readiness and ability to act, Europe was hit by a global pandemic of COVID-19. Because of this crisis, the European Union and its institutions faced a number of challenges, stemming from unprecedented measures imposed to tackle it. In contrast with the economic crisis, it was not only the European industrial and financial sectors but also more segments, essential to the functioning of the European Union itself, which were affected by the recent crisis. The aim of this thesis is to point out the differences of impacts of the two crisis and to find out the role played by the European Commission during the process of dealing with them.