Social Media and COVID-19

NCT04367363 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2020-CERC-001B
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 151
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

In this protocol, we seek to examine the role of popular messaging platform WhatsApp in information spread during a crisis. As there have been few global crises in the last decade (coinciding with the rise of social media), the role of private messaging platforms such as WhatsApp during crisis contexts remains understudied. During the current COVID-19 global health crisis, we undertook this study to: (1) characterize the nature of WhatsApp use during crises, (2) characterize the profiles of WhatsApp users (3) understand how WhatsApp usage links to well-being (fear and thoughts about COVID-19).

Conditions

Coronavirus; Depression; Anxiety; Stress

Keywords

Social Media; Misinformation; COVID-19

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• WhatsApp usage

  Participants were asked a series of questions daily related to their WhatsApp usage behaviors - in particular, their message-forwarding, personal chat and group chat behaviors.

  1 week, starting from date after baseline survey completion

• Changes in fear with regards the COVID-19 situation across 1 week

  1 item each day on fear specifically of the COVID-19 situation (measured on a 4 point scale: min = 1, max = 4; higher scores indicating greater fear about the outbreak).

  1 week, starting from date after baseline survey completion

• Changes in amount of thinking about the COVID-19 situation across 1 week

  1 item each day on how much they thought about the outbreak that day (measured on a 5 point scale: min = 1, max = 5; higher scores indicating more thinking about the outbreak).

  1 week, starting from date after initial survey completion

Study Arms (1)

Community sample

We plan to recruit a representative sample of the Singapore population.

Behavioral: Social media & news consumption

Interventions

Social media & news consumption BEHAVIORAL

Daily reports of social media use and consumption, including reports on receiving and disseminating news articles related to the COVID-19 situation (e.g., how many messaging groups shared news on the outbreak, how many items related to the outbreak they forwarded to others, etc).

Community sample

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 21 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Representative sample of the Singapore population

You may qualify if:

• At least 21 years
• Has stayed in Singapore for at least 2 years
• Has a WhatsApp account that can be used for the research study

You may not qualify if:

• Below 21 years
• Has stayed in Singapore for less than 2 years
• Does not have a WhatsApp account that can be used for the research study

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Jean Liu: lead

Study Sites (1)

Yale-NUS College

Singapore, 138527, Singapore

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Tan EY, Wee RR, Saw YE, Heng KJ, Chin JW, Tong EM, Liu JC. Tracking Private WhatsApp Discourse About COVID-19 in Singapore: Longitudinal Infodemiology Study. J Med Internet Res. 2021 Dec 23;23(12):e34218. doi: 10.2196/34218.

  PMID: 34881720 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Coronavirus Infections; Depression; Anxiety Disorders; Communication; COVID-19

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Coronaviridae Infections; Nidovirales Infections; RNA Virus Infections; Virus Diseases; Infections; Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior; Mental Disorders; Pneumonia, Viral; Pneumonia; Respiratory Tract Infections; Lung Diseases; Respiratory Tract Diseases

Study Officials

• Jean Liu, PhD

  Yale-NUS College

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 17, 2020
• First Posted: April 29, 2020
• Study Start: March 17, 2020
• Primary Completion: May 7, 2020
• Study Completion: May 31, 2020
• Last Updated: December 29, 2020

Record last verified: 2020-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

SG (1)