Political consciousness, agency and mental health. Students in the Covid 19-Pandemic

Abstract Introduction The influence of social crises in their objective quality as well as their subjective processing on health well-being has been researched many times. The loss of agency that can be observed in the course of social crises is considered to be a negative mediating factor between both variables. The Corona pandemic was also associated with a loss of options and routines for action for most of the population. Methods We conducted two quantitative surveys on mental health in the pandemic in spring 2020 and autumn 2021. While the first international comparative survey was conducted under the auspices of the University of Antwerp, the second was carried out at five German universities. Results The quantitative data show the negative impact of the pandemic on students’ mental health - CES-D 8 (0 to 24) (x¯2020=9.22, x¯2021=9.38). They also show a negative correlation between whether students’ concerns are sufficiently considered by policy makers in the pandemic and depressive symptomatology (r=-0.146, p < 0.01). That is, the less satisfied students are with political measures, the lower the depressive symptomatology. Conlusion Against the background of the socio-psychological inequality study ‘Die Arbeitslosen von Marienthal', which is considered a classic, this connection is far less paradoxical than might initially be assumed if one interprets political awareness as a correlate of a subjectively perceived power to act, which has a positive effect on mental health. Based on this thesis, we have opted for a mixed-methods design and are conducting qualitative interviews on subjective crisis processing, the results of which we will be able to present at the conference. Key messages • Subjectively perceived agency reduces the health-reducing effect of social crises. • Students are a relevant group to learn from for capacity building.


Background:
Integrated knowledge translation (IKT) has been a cornerstone of the Collaboration for Evidence-based Healthcare and Public Health in Africa (CEBHA+) with partners in Ethiopia, Germany, Malawi, Rwanda, South Africa, and Uganda. The consortium conducts research on preventing and treating noncommunicable diseases as well as road traffic injuries. IKT is understood as the continuous engagement of decision-makers throughout the research process in order to build equitable, mutually beneficial partnerships to conduct policy-relevant research and, ultimately, strengthen evidence-informed decision-making (EIDM). Gradually, a structured ''CEBHA+ IKT approach'' was developed, including systematic stakeholder mapping and analysis, and the development of local IKT strategies.

Methods:
We conducted a mixed-methods process and outcome evaluation of this IKT intervention. This comprised structured interviews, an online survey, and document analyses at two time points, two and four years after IKT initiation.

Results:
Preliminary results show that partnerships with decisionmakers were successfully established or strengthened. While continuous engagement was implemented, fidelity to formalised IKT strategies was variable. The development, monitoring and updating of the IKT strategies, originally conceptualised as an essential intervention component, has been helpful for some CEBHA+ researchers and may facilitate implementation. However, the vision for decision-maker engagement as well as emphasis on continuous engagement (defined as a deliverable) emerged as more important intervention drivers and may be conceptualised as intervention components.

Conclusions:
A strong vision and continuous engagement with decisionmakers are critical for strengthening EIDM. Formalised IKT

Introduction:
The influence of social crises in their objective quality as well as their subjective processing on health well-being has been researched many times. The loss of agency that can be observed in the course of social crises is considered to be a negative mediating factor between both variables. The Corona pandemic was also associated with a loss of options and routines for action for most of the population.

Methods:
We conducted two quantitative surveys on mental health in the pandemic in spring 2020 and autumn 2021. While the first international comparative survey was conducted under the auspices of the University of Antwerp, the second was carried out at five German universities.

Results:
The quantitative data show the negative impact of the pandemic on students' mental health -CES-D 8 (0 to 24) (x 2020 = 9.22, x 2021 = 9.38). They also show a negative correlation between whether students' concerns are sufficiently considered by policy makers in the pandemic and depressive symptomatology (r = -0.146, p < 0.01). That is, the less satisfied students are with political measures, the lower the depressive symptomatology.

Conlusion:
Against the background of the socio-psychological inequality study 'Die Arbeitslosen von Marienthal', which is considered a classic, this connection is far less paradoxical than might initially be assumed if one interprets political awareness as a correlate of a subjectively perceived power to act, which has a positive effect on mental health. Based on this thesis, we have opted for a mixed-methods design and are conducting qualitative interviews on subjective crisis processing, the results of which we will be able to present at the conference.

Key messages:
Subjectively perceived agency reduces the health-reducing effect of social crises. Students are a relevant group to learn from for capacity building.
As the economies transform into data-centred, so do the health systems. Responding effectively to emerging challenges through right decisions and setting up adjusted policies require a well-functioning evidence-based tool. The one developed in Poland is called 'Maps of Health Needs'. It provides key stakeholders with unbiased data to support decision making processes. The Map depicts the current situation in the system, and forecasts the changes in upcoming years. The system is shown widely: starting with the background of demography and epidemiology, later moving to the out-and in-patient care, including long term care and rehabilitation, concluding with resources (staff and infrastructure). This broad and unbiased view on the system now and in the years to come, allows the public sector institutions to plan the short, medium and long term actions. It regards both strategic and operational levels, for the whole country and for the regions respectively. The documents juxtapose the current and the desired state of the system in the future, outlining necessary actions and goals in order to achieve it. In the recent years a few strategic frameworks have been developed in Poland, as the preparation for the next EU programming period advanced and in reaction to the pandemic crisis. The main documents include: 1) Healthy Future, the umbrella-like framework for the period 2021-2027, 2) Recovery and resilience plan, 3) Transformation plans. The first and the second one became a part of the negotiation conditions at the European level, as they form a reliable source for modelling the flux of investments' financing. In that way