Page 11 - Accelerating Research and Impact - Issue 5

Light in the Darkness
8
Correct attitude
Application in the current pandemic situation
Confront hardships and adversity
Read accurate information about the pandemic and learn to understand about viral transmission.
Reduce cognitive distortions or “thinking traps”
Do not panic. Just stay calm.
Expand your views and look for clear evidence to support rumours and hearsay
If you receive any updates about the pandemic, try to verify them through official reports or credible media sources.
Keep a moderately relaxed attitude
When news about the pandemic affects your emotions negatively, take a break and do something else, such as listening to music or housework.
Seek help and support from family and friends
Talk to family and friends about your concerns (for instance looking for surgical masks) and help and encourage each other. It is also good to exchange information and even solve one another’s difficulties.
According to Prof Siu, “psychological capital” refers to the four factors necessary in dealing with adversity and challenges, namely self-efficacy, hope, optimism and resilience. Of these, Prof Siu believes that resilience is crucial during times of adversity and that this ability to adapt to difficult conditions and recover or bounce back is not only a psychological quality, but also a factor related to our body’s immune system.
An earlier study led by Prof Siu showed that medical staff who scored highly for resilience in the questionnaire also had higher levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA) in their immune system, which made them less likely to fall sick during the course of pandemic prevention.
Tips for the community on how to increase resilience