AI Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the link between the COVID-19 pandemic and the phenomenon of toilet paper hoarding, aiming to identify factors that may contribute to this behavior.
- It utilizes both systematic and realist reviews, analyzing various data sources, including scientific databases and grey literature from the pandemic's onset until October 2020.
- Findings highlight that psychological factors, such as personality traits and stress, influence hoarding behaviors, with specific studies showing a correlation between the perceived threat of COVID-19 and increased toilet paper stockpiling.
Article Abstract
Objective: To explore whether the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is associated with toilet paper hoarding and to assess which risk factors are associated with the risk of toilet paper hoarding.
Design: A systematic review and realist review were conducted.
Data Sources: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and PsycINFO were searched (systematic review). PubMed, pre-prints and grey literature were also searched (realist review). The databases were searched from inception until October 2020.
Study Selection: There were no restrictions on the study design.
Outcomes And Measures: For the systematic review, toilet paper hoarding was the main outcome, and pathological use of toilet paper was the secondary outcome. For the realist review, the context-mechanisms-outcome (CMO) scheme included the COVID-19 pandemic (context), four proposed mechanisms, and one outcome (toilet paper hoarding). The four potential mechanisms were (1) gastrointestinal mechanisms of COVID-19 (e.g. diarrhoea), (2) social cognitive biases, (3) stress-related factors (mental illnesses, personality traits) and (4) cultural aspects (e.g. differences between countries).
Eligibility Criteria For Selecting Studies: All studies of human populations were considered (including general population studies and clinical studies of patients suffering from mental health problems).
Results: The systematic review identified 14 studies (eight studies for the main outcome, six studies for the secondary outcome). Three surveys identified the role of the COVID-19 threat in toilet paper hoarding in the general population. One study pointed to an association between a personality trait (conscientiousness) and toilet paper buying and stockpiling as well as an additional significant indirect effect of emotionality through the perceived threat of COVID-19 on toilet paper buying and stockpiling. Six case reports of pathological use of toilet paper were also identified, although none of them were associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The realist review suggested that of all the mechanisms, social cognitive biases and a bandwagon effect were potential contributors to toilet paper hoarding in the general population. The stressful situation (COVID-19 pandemic) and some personality traits (conscientiousness) were found to be associated with toilet paper hoarding. Cultural differences were also identified, with relatively substantial effects of toilet paper hoarding in several Asian regions (Australia, Japan, Taiwan and Singapore).
Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with a worldwide increase in toilet paper hoarding. Social media and social cognitive biases are major contributors and might explain some differences in toilet paper hoarding between countries. Other mental health-related factors, such as the stressful situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, fear of contagion, or particular personality traits (conscientiousness), are likely to be involved.
Registration: PROSPERO CRD42020182308.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7849510 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.10771 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Engineered alginate-polyethyleneimine and sludge-aluminosilicate biochar composites for greywater treatment: Performance evaluation and models for designing pilot-scale systems.
Environ Res
January 2025
Department of Environment Sciences and Engineering, The Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 166 Rosenau, Campus Box # 7431, NC 27599, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. Electronic address:
Greywater, originating from kitchen sinks and toilets, constitutes 75-80 % of the domestic wastewater produced in homes and can be reclaimed for non-potable uses. This study synthesized novel sludge-derived aluminosilicates and alginate-polyethyleneimine (PEI) biochar composites. The aluminosilicates offer a sustainable approach to sludge management, while alginate-polyethyleneimine presents a green biochar modification approach.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTowards stormwater reuse risk management plans: Methodology and catchment scale evaluation of QMRA.
Sci Total Environ
January 2025
Department of Science and Engineering of Materials, Environment and Urban Planning - SIMAU, Polytechnic University of Marche, via Brecce Bianche 12, 60131 Ancona, Italy.
The reuse of stormwater represents a potential option for meeting water demands in water stressed regions as well as preventing and mitigating diffuse pollution of receiving water bodies. Particularly, the elaboration of a risk management plan for stormwater reuse may help to understand associated environmental and public health risks and design fit-for-purpose water treatment processes. In this work, it is presented an innovative methodology to perform quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) for stormwater reuse by using data simulated by SWMM software.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTargeted prevention strategy: Exploring the interaction effect of environmental and social factors on infectious diseases.
Sci Total Environ
January 2025
Shandong Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Health, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China. Electronic address:
Article Synopsis
- Human health is significantly impacted by environmental and social factors, but the complex interactions between these elements and diseases are not well understood, creating gaps in effective prevention strategies.
- By using data from China, the study employs interpretable machine learning to analyze how factors like SO emissions, sanitation coverage, and sunshine duration affect infectious disease rates, revealing a nonlinear relationship where poor sanitation increases risks, while better coverage can mitigate them.
- The study introduces multilevel risk trigger points (RTPs) for SO emissions, which help create targeted policies for disease prevention and pollution reduction, highlighting key thresholds that require intervention to lower disease incidence.
Design of an intelligent disinfection control system based on an STM32 single-chip microprocessor by using the YOLO algorithm.
Sci Rep
December 2024
College of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, Dalian Minzu University, Dalian, 116650, Liaoning, China.
The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has affected more than two million people of the world, and far social distancing and segregated lifestyle have to be adopted as a common solution in recent years. To solve the problem of sanitation control and epidemic prevention in public places, in this paper, an intelligent disinfection control system based on the STM32 single-chip microprocessor was designed to realize intelligent closed-loop disinfection in local public places such as public toilets. The proposed system comprises seven modules: image acquisition, spraying control, disinfectant liquid level control, access control, voice broadcast, system display, and data storage.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFImproving Access to Hygiene, Sanitation, and Drinking Water in King County and Beyond: Success Factors and Costs.
J Public Health Manag Pract
January 2025
Author Affiliations: Public Health - Seattle and King County, Washington.
Context: Most major urban areas in the US, including Seattle and King County, have a long-standing lack of public restrooms, handwashing stations, and drinking water, presenting public health risks.
Objective: To aid decision-makers in expanding access, we review available information regarding successful hygiene programs in urban settings to identify shared characteristics and costs.
Design: We reviewed 10 journal articles, 49 news articles, and 54 pieces of gray literature including reports, white papers, and online resources describing real-world hygiene, sanitation, and drinking water programs in US and global urban settings.
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!