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Individuals' positive gains from the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study across 30 countries

Li J 1 , Davidson PM 2 , Fong DYT 1 , Li Y 3 , Lok KYW 1 , Wong JYH 4 Show all authors , Man Ho M 1 , Choi EPH 1 , Pandian V 5 , Duan W 6 , Tarrant M 7 , Lee JJ 1 , Lin CC 1 , Akingbade O 8 , Alabdulwahhab KM 9 , Ahmad MS 10 , Alboraie M 11 , Alzahrani MA 12 , Bilimale AS 13 , Boonpatcharanon S 14 , Byiringiro S 5 , Hasan MKC 15 , Schettini LC 16 , Corzo W 17 , De Leon JM 18 , De Leon AS 18 , Deek H 19 , Efficace F 20 , El Nayal MA 21 , El-Raey F 22 , Ensaldo-Carrasco E 23 , Escotorin P 24 , Fadodun OA 25 , Fawole IO 26 , Goh YS 27 , Irawan D 28 , Khan NE 29 , Koirala B 5 , Krishna A 30 , Kwok C 31 , Le TT 32 , Leal DG 33 , Lezana-Fernández MÁ 34 , Manirambona E 35 , Mantoani LC 36 , Meneses-González F 34 , Mohamed IE 37 , Mukeshimana M 38 , Nguyen CTM 32 , Nguyen HTT 32 , Nguyen KT 32 , Nguyen ST 32 , Nurumal MS 15 , Nzabonimana A 39 , Omer NAMA 40 , Ogungbe O 5 , Poon ACY 41 , Reséndiz-Rodriguez A 42 , Puang-Ngern B 14 , Sagun CG 18 , Shaik RA 10 , Shankar NG 43 , Sommer K 20 , Toro E 33 , Tran HTH 32 , Urgel EL 18 , Uwiringiyimana E 35 , Vanichbuncha T 14 , Youssef N 44

Affiliations 

  • 1 School of Nursing, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
  • 2 Vice-Chancellor and Principal, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
  • 3 School of nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
  • 4 School of Nursing and Health Studies, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Hong Kong SAR, China
  • 5 School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
  • 6 Department of Social Work, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
  • 7 School of Nursing, The University of British Columbia, Kelowna British Columbia, Canada
  • 8 The Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
  • 9 College of Medicine, Majmaah University, Al Majmaah, Saudi Arabia
  • 10 Department of Family & Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Majmaah University, Majmaah, Saudi Arabia
  • 11 Department of Internal Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
  • 12 Department of Urology, College of Medicine, Majmaah University, Al Majmaah, Saudi Arabia
  • 13 School of Public Health, JSS Medical College, JSS AHER, Mysuru, India
  • 14 Department of Statistics, Chulalongkorn Business School, Bangkok, Thailand
  • 15 Kulliyyah of Nursing, International Islamic University, Kuantan, Malaysia
  • 16 Italian Association against Leukemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma, Rome Section, Rome, Italy
  • 17 Diálogos Guatemala, Guatemala, Guatemala
  • 18 School of Nursing, Centro Escolar University, Manila, Philippines
  • 19 Nursing Department, Faculty of Health Science, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, Lebanon
  • 20 Italian Group for Adult Hematologic Disease, Data Center and Health Outcomes Research Unit, Rome, Italy
  • 21 Department of Psychology, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, Lebanon
  • 22 Department of hepatogastroenterology and infectious diseases, Damietta faculty of medicine, Al-Azher University, Cairo, Egypt
  • 23 Ergonomics Research Center, University of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
  • 24 Laboratory of Applied Prosocial Research, Department of Basic, Developmental and Educational Psychology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
  • 25 Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
  • 26 Faculty of Nursing, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, Nigeria
  • 27 Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, National University of Singapore, Singapore
  • 28 School of Nursing, Wijaya Husada Health Institute, Bogor, Indonesia
  • 29 Department of Optometry, University of Kwazulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
  • 30 Ecove, Ghaziabad, India
  • 31 School of Nursing, Paramedicine and Health Care Science, Charles Sturt University, New South Wales, Australia
  • 32 Nam Dinh University of Nursing, Nam Dinh, Vietnam
  • 33 Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, School of Social Work, Valparaíso, Chile
  • 34 Research Department, National Commission for Medical Arbitration, Mexico City, Mexico
  • 35 College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda
  • 36 Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Presidente Prudente, Brazil
  • 37 Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Benghazi University, Benghazi, Libya
  • 38 School of Nursing and Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda
  • 39 Center for Language Enhancement, College of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Rwanda, Huye, Rwanda
  • 40 Faculty of Medicine, Alzaiem Alazhari University, Khartoum North, Sudan
  • 41 Faculty of Health Sciences and Sports, Macao Polytechnic University, Macao, China
  • 42 National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
  • 43 Mental Health and Learning division, Wrexham Maelor Hospital, Wrexham, UK
  • 44 Medical-surgical Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
J Glob Health, 2025 Feb 14;15:04091.
PMID: 39950570 DOI: 10.7189/jogh.15.04091

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Given the limited understanding of individuals' positive gains, this study aimed to identify these gains that could be leveraged by policymakers to enhance future health and societal resilience.

METHODS: We used a global qualitative approach to survey adults over 18 from 30 countries across six World Health Organization (WHO) regions, who detailed up to three personal positive gains from COVID-19 pandemic via an open-ended question. Inductive thematic analysis was employed to identify main themes, and quantitative methods were used for demographic and regional comparisons based on the percentage of responses for each theme.

RESULTS: From 35 911 valid responses provided by 13 853 participants, six main themes (one negative theme), 39 subthemes, and 673 codes were identified. Five positive gain themes emerged, ordered by response frequency: 1) improved health awareness and practices; 2) strengthened social bonds and trust; 3) multi-dimensional personal growth; 4) resilience and preparedness building; 5) accelerated digital transformation. The percentage of responses under these themes consistently appeared in the same order across various demographic groups and economic development levels. However, there were variations in the predominant theme across WHO regions and countries, with either Theme 1, Theme 2, or Theme 3 having the highest percentage of responses. Although our study primarily focused on positive gains, unexpectedly, 12% of responses (4304) revealed 'negative gains', leading to an unforeseen theme: 'Distrust and emerging vulnerabilities.' While this deviates from our main topic, we retained it as it provides valuable insights. Notably, these 'negative gains' had a higher percentage of responses in areas like Burundi (94.1%), Rwanda (31.8%), Canada (26.9%), and in the African Region (37.7%) and low-income (43.9%) countries, as well as among non-binary individuals, those with lower education, and those facing employment challenges.

CONCLUSIONS: Globally, the identified diverse positive gains guide the domains in which health policies and practices can transform these transient benefits into enduring improvements for a healthier, more resilient society. However, variations in thematic responses across demographics, countries, and regions highlights need for tailored health strategies.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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