Social Sciences Corona studies

We conducted a reanalysis of remdesivir (potential antiviral treatment for COVID) clinical trial data using Bayesian statistics.

Early authorizations of remdesivir in Europe and the USA were largely based on results from two clinical trials. A third study published by Wang et al. was underpowered and deemed inconclusive. Although regulators have shown an interest in interpreting the Wang et al. study, under a frequentist framework it is difficult to determine if the non-significant finding was caused by a lack of power or by the absence of an effect. Bayesian hypothesis testing does allow for quantification of evidence in favor of the absence of an effect.

Results of our reanalysis of the three trials show ambiguous evidence for the primary outcome of clinical improvement and moderate evidence against the secondary outcome of decreased mortality rate. Additional analyses of three studies published after initial marketing approval support these findings, suggesting that remdesivir has little to no effect against COVID-19.

Project collaborators: Sarahanne Field, Joyce Hoek, Don van Ravenzwaaij, Ymkje Anna de Vries, Maximilian Linde, Merle-Marie Pittelkow, Jasmine Muradchanian
Contactperson: Joyce Hoek
Department: Psychology, Psychometric & Statistics

Our publication:

Hoek, J. M., Field, S. M., de Vries, Y. A., Linde, M., Pittelkow, M. M., Muradchanian, J., & van Ravenzwaaij, D. (2021). Rethinking remdesivir for COVID-19: A Bayesian reanalysis of trial findings. PloS one, 16(7), e0255093.

Article by the Correspondent that cites our article.

We are comparing how East Germans do in times of corona compared to West Germans.

Project collaborators: Brian Ostafin,Judith Daniels & Lea Jasmin Seidel
Contactperson: Lea Jasmin Seidel
Department: Psychology, Clinical Psychology

We assessed how Corona impacts those exposed versus not exposed to gas extraction in the North of Groningen. Questions were administered as part of a longitudinal panel study.

Project collaborators: Katherine Stroebe, Tom Postmes, Justin Richardson, Babet Kanis, Marlon de Jong, Marjolein Boendermaker, Lieke Schoutens
Contactperson: Katherine Stroebe
Projectwebsite: https://www.groningsperspectief.nl/meting-maart-2020/
Department: Psychology, Social Psychology

When in March 2020, the Netherlands went in lockdown and suddenly the university, schools and shops had to close, questions emerged how newcomers would experience this time. Together with a team of students, the organizations ‘Groningen Verwelkomt’ and ‘Heel Groningen helpt’ as well as three Syrian researchers, Nina Hansen conducted research about the situation of newcomers in the Netherlands during the lockdown. In videos and a national webinar, the team shared their main findings and practical recommendations for societal actors. The most important finding is that integration almost stagnated and still does. It is therefore essential to bring newcomers and Dutch people into contact with each other, because contact is crucial for integration.

Project collaborators: Nina Hansen, Liesbet Heyse, Marloes Huis, Eline Heikamp, Helena Punjer, Majd Jabbour, Sama Aalaloush, Adham Elias Botrous
Contactperson: Nina Hansen
Department: Psychology, Social Psychology

Outputs so far:

• The project was nominated for the Ben Feringa Student Impact Award 2022, Eline Heikamp who wrote her master thesis in this project, received an honorable mention.

• Video about the project "Integration despite isolation" about the psychological consequences and recommendations for the integration of newcomers during the pandemic.

• Recording of a nationwide webinar from December 3, 2020

• Short video of this webinar was recently shared to make societal actors aware about the still precarious situation of newcomers.

• RUG news article (December 1, 2020). Integration of newcomers is almost at a standstill. Evidence-based recommendations for the practical field. Also mentioned in in RUG and Faculty BSS newsletter.

• Article in Dagblad Van Het Noorden (03/12/2020). Integratie statushouders stokt door corona.

• Article in Friesch Dagblad (03/12/2020). Integratie van nieuwkomers staat bijna stil door coronacrisis.

• Shared on social media via Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn via project team and beyond via Social Psychology department, Faculty, RUG, European Association of Social Psychology.

• Example blogs: Aletta Jacobs School of Public Health, RUG.

Within this project we aim investigate grief responses during the Coronavirus pandemic. We aim to shed light on acute and prolonged grief reactions after losses due to COVID-19 and the characteristics of grief and bereavement before and after the pandemic.

Project collaborators : Maarten Eisma, Aerjen Tamminga (www.psyned.nl); various other grief researchers
Contactperson: Maarten Eisma
Projectwebsite:
Department: Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Experimental Psychopathology

We are running a longitudinal online questionnaire study on mental health and meaning in life throughout the crisis.

Contactperson:Lea Jasmin Seidel
Project Collaborators: Brian Ostafin, Judith Daniels & Lea Jasmin Seidel
Department: Psychology, Clinical Psychology

We are running studies related to the transition of students from University to work (corona effects on students' graduation)

Project collaborators: Anne-Kathrin Kleine, Antje Schmitt, Anita Keller
Contactperson: Anne-Kathrin Kleine
Projectwebsite: https://rugtransition.webnode.com/
Department: Psychology, Organizational Psychology

Project collaborators : Lisa Kiltz, Ellen P.W.A. Jansen, Marjon Fokkens-Bruinsma
Contactperson: Lisa Kiltz
Projectwebsite: https://thrive.gmw.rug.nl/category/enhancing-resilience/
Department: Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Experimental Psychopathology

The PsyCorona project focuses on the identification of psychological and cultural factors, combined with different governmental containment measures, that may predict differences in the spread of SARS-CoV-2. The fast-spreading coronavirus prompted many countries into lockdowns and various social mitigation measures, some of which may be required for years.

Project collaborators: Pontus Leander and many (international) collaborators
Contactperson: Pontus Leander
Projectwebsite: https://psycorona.org/
Department:Psychology, Organizational Psychology

We are running a study to investigate the social consequences of face masks and physical distancing.

Project collaborators: Susanne Scheibe, Kai Epstude, Felix Grundmann
Contactperson: Susanne Scheibe
Department: Psychology, Organizational Psychology

A survey among German citizens on communication between people with diverging opinions on the corona regulations.

Project collaborators: Namkje Koudenburg, Til Jacobs, Yoshihisa Kashima
Contactperson: Namkje Koudenburg
Department: Psychology, Social Psychology

We assessed how firefighters, who were assessed several times before corona, are currently doing.

Project collaborators: Miriam Lommen, Brian Ostafin,Judith Daniels & Lea Jasmin Seidel
Contactperson: Lea Jasmin Seidel
Department: Psychology, Clinical Psychology

We are assessing posttraumatic adjustment in health care workers

Project collaborators: Judith Daniels & many international researchers
Contactperson: Judith Daniels
Projectwebsite: https://de.global-psychotrauma.net/covid-19-projects ; https://coronawellbeing.web.rug.nl/
Department: Psychology, Clinical Psychology

We conducted an online survey about how teachers (primary, secondary, vocational education) implement distance education, and about the effects of the corona crisis on their stress and well-being. Over 300 teachers participated; there will be a follow up of a small sample for online interviews.

Project collaborators: Elisa Kupers, Jolien Mouw (Educational Sciences, RUG), Marjon Fokkens (Teacher education, RUG)
Contactperson: Elisa Kupers
Department: Pedagogical and Educational Sciences, Inclusive & Special Needs Education (Ortho)

We investigate how the large-scale working from home accelerates labor market trends and affects worker effectiveness, well-being, and social dynamics over 6 months.

Project collaborators: Anita Keller, Sharon Parker1, Caroline Knight1, Yukun Liu1 ( 1=Future of Work Institute at Curtin University, Australia)
Contactperson: Anita Keller
Website: https://www.transformativeworkdesign.com/working-from-home-survey
Department: Psychology, Organizational Psychology

We investigate what strategies are effective for workers to feel good (e.g., purposeful, connected and appreciated by others), be effective at their work (e.g., high performing, adaptive), and successfully balance private and work demands on a daily basis.

Project collaborators: Anita Keller, Sharon Parker1, Caroline Knight1, Yukun Liu1 ( 1=Future of Work Institute at Curtin University, Australia)
Contactperson: Anita Keller
Projectwebsite: https://www.transformativeworkdesign.com/working-from-home-survey
Department: Psychology, Organizational Psychology

In this three-wave study we investigate changes in leader behaviors during the crisis and relationships with employee outcomes (e.g., future prospects, optimism, and well-being indicators)

Project collaborators: Antje Schmitt, Sandra Ohly (University of Kassel, Germany), Anja Göritz (University of Freiburg, Germany)
Contactperson: Antje Schmitt
Department: Psychology, Organizational Psychology

Study on working conditions and well-being of teachers during the Corona lockdown. The study makes a comparison between pre-Corona and post-Corona working conditions and outcomes.

Project collaborators: Kathrin Hilger, Melanie Keller (Leibniz Institute for Science and Mathematics Education), Anne Frenzel (Ludwig‐Maximilians University, Munich), Susanne Scheibe
Contactperson: Susanne Scheibe
Department: Psychology, Organizational Psychology