The Impact of COVID-19 on the Social Connectedness of Maine Loggers

Details

• Personal Author:
  Graham J ; Hirabayashi L ; Jenkins P ; Krupa N ; Scott E
• Description:
  Background and Objective(s): From late 2018 to early 2021, the Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety in Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing collected data on health and risk exposures for Maine loggers through quarterly surveys and in-person health screenings to close the knowledge gap about non-fatal health and safety issues facing this work population. Methods: Among the eight surveys sent to the Maine logger population, two surveys included the Medical Outcome Study (MOS) Social Support Survey developed by the RAND Corporation. The MOS Social Support Survey includes four functional support scales--emotional/informational, tangible, affectionate, and positive social interaction-and constructs an overall functional social support index. The first survey was sent before and/or at the beginning of the pandemic using mixed methods; and the second survey was sent in December 2020/January 2021 using postal mail. Data analysis will be completed by May 2021. Results: The surveys were sent to 293 loggers, with response rates of 51.9% (n=152) for the first survey and 52.2% (153) for the second survey. 116 loggers completed both surveys. Preliminary analysis of the data found the following: In the first survey, the scores in the four functional support scales ranges from 75 to 85 out of 100, with an overall average of 81; and in the second survey, the scores in the four scales ranges from 72 to 84, with an overall average of 78 out of 100. Conclusions: Preliminary analysis indicates a negative correlation between loggers' social support and the pandemic. Further analysis will be conducted on additional survey data related to financial well-being and emotional health to develop a more nuanced understanding of the role of social support for a rural worker population, and how it changed with the pandemic. Furthermore, we will compare our results to other studies using the MOS Social Support Survey. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Communicable Diseases Epidemiology Forestry Occupational Health Safety Surveys And Questionnaires
• Keywords:
  COVID-19 Health Surveys Logging Workers Well-being
• Publisher:
  American Public Health Association
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  Maine ; New York ; OSHA Region 1 ; OSHA Region 2
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20069984
• Citation:
  Creating the Healthiest Nation: Strengthening Social Connectedness. APHA 149th Annual Meeting and Exposition, October 24-27, 2021, Denver, Colorado and virtual event. Washington, DC: American Public Health Association, 2021 Oct; :495613
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2022
• NORA Priority Area:
  Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
• Performing Organization:
  Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital, Cooperstown, New York
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20010930
• Source Full Name:
  Creating the Healthiest Nation: Strengthening Social Connectedness. APHA 149th Annual Meeting and Exposition, October 24-27, 2021, Denver, Colorado and virtual event
• End Date:
  20250831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:661c0298e1bb1656d2b739cf80b49e02e98bc8a9bd849b4d3053a083c335ad0f76c7e7ebacb92cd2450b0c31d9c45acbf7dbb043dc84023898ac41140df70b07
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/208297/cdc_208297_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 365.30 KB ]