The psychological science accelerator’s COVID-19 rapid-response dataset

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Psychological Science Accelerator coordinated three large-scale psychological studies to examine the effects of loss-gain framing, cognitive reappraisals, and autonomy framing manipulations on behavioral intentions and affective measures. The data collected (April to October 2020) included specific measures for each experimental study, a general questionnaire examining health prevention behaviors and COVID-19 experience, geographical and cultural context characterization, and demographic information for each participant. Each participant started the study with the same general questions and then was randomized to complete either one longer experiment or two shorter experiments. Data were provided by 73,223 participants with varying completion rates. Participants completed the survey from 111 geopolitical regions in 44 unique languages/dialects. The anonymized dataset described here is provided in both raw and processed formats to facilitate re-use and further analyses. The dataset offers secondary analytic opportunities to explore coping, framing, and self-determination across a diverse, global sample obtained at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which can be merged with other time-sampled or geographic data

A global experiment on motivating social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic

Finding communication strategies that effectively motivate social distancing continues to be a global public health priority during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-country, preregistered experiment (n = 25,718 from 89 countries) tested hypotheses concerning generalizable positive and negative outcomes of social distancing messages that promoted personal agency and reflective choices (i.e., an autonomy-supportive message) or were restrictive and shaming (i.e., a controlling message) compared with no message at all. Results partially supported experimental hypotheses in that the controlling message increased controlled motivation (a poorly internalized form of motivation relying on shame, guilt, and fear of social consequences) relative to no message. On the other hand, the autonomy-supportive message lowered feelings of defiance compared with the controlling message, but the controlling message did not differ from receiving no message at all. Unexpectedly, messages did not influence autonomous motivation (a highly internalized form of motivation relying on one’s core values) or behavioral intentions. Results supported hypothesized associations between people’s existing autonomous and controlled motivations and self-reported behavioral intentions to engage in social distancing. Controlled motivation was associated with more defiance and less long-term behavioral intention to engage in social distancing, whereas autonomous motivation was associated with less defiance and more short- and long-term intentions to social distance. Overall, this work highlights the potential harm of using shaming and pressuring language in public health communication, with implications for the current and future global health challenges

The Psychological Science Accelerator’s COVID-19 rapid-response dataset

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Psychological Science Accelerator coordinated three large-scale psychological studies to examine the effects of loss-gain framing, cognitive reappraisals, and autonomy framing manipulations on behavioral intentions and affective measures. The data collected (April to October 2020) included specific measures for each experimental study, a general questionnaire examining health prevention behaviors and COVID-19 experience, geographical and cultural context characterization, and demographic information for each participant. Each participant started the study with the same general questions and then was randomized to complete either one longer experiment or two shorter experiments. Data were provided by 73,223 participants with varying completion rates. Participants completed the survey from 111 geopolitical regions in 44 unique languages/dialects. The anonymized dataset described here is provided in both raw and processed formats to facilitate re-use and further analyses. The dataset offers secondary analytic opportunities to explore coping, framing, and self-determination across a diverse, global sample obtained at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which can be merged with other time-sampled or geographic data

A multi-country test of brief reappraisal interventions on emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased negative emotions and decreased positive emotions globally. Left unchecked, these emotional changes might have a wide array of adverse impacts. To reduce negative emotions and increase positive emotions, we tested the effectiveness of reappraisal, an emotion-regulation strategy that modifies how one thinks about a situation. Participants from 87 countries and regions (n = 21,644) were randomly assigned to one of two brief reappraisal interventions (reconstrual or repurposing) or one of two control conditions (active or passive). Results revealed that both reappraisal interventions (vesus both control conditions) consistently reduced negative emotions and increased positive emotions across different measures. Reconstrual and repurposing interventions had similar effects. Importantly, planned exploratory analyses indicated that reappraisal interventions did not reduce intentions to practice preventive health behaviours. The findings demonstrate the viability of creating scalable, low-cost interventions for use around the world

Environmental geochemistry of a mega beach nourishment in the Netherlands: Monitoring freshening and oxidation processes

Abstract As coastal lowlands are prone to sea water flooding, sea-level rise might globally increase this risk. To protect its coastline, the Netherlands adds an average of 12 million m3 of sand annually, but more is needed to cope with the expected consequences of global warming. In 2011 a novel approach for coastal protection was applied near The Hague, consisting of a mega beach nourishment of 21.5 million m3 of sand: the Sand Engine – an artificial sand spit rising to 6 m above mean sea level. It uniquely combines coastal engineering construction with environmental, ecological and social considerations. To construct the Sand Engine, material was used from the seafloor, which changed the materials environment from anaerobic to aerobic, triggering two main hydrogeochemical processes: pyrite oxidation and groundwater freshening. The objective of this study was to assess the sediment geochemistry of the Sand Engine and understand the hydrogeochemistry with respect to pyrite oxidation and freshening. When sufficient buffer capacity is lacking, the mobility of metals and metalloids originated from the mineral pyrite, can cause local impacts on ecology and environment. Geochemical and multivariate statistical analyses were performed on 174 sediment samples from the Sand Engine and from material collected from the seafloor prior to its construction, as well as on 86 samples of pore water collected from the Sand Engine. First, a cluster analysis was performed, using model-based (Mclust) and variable clustering. Second, a robust factor analyses (RFA) was used to explain the variation between the groups and discover relationships between elements and/or soil properties within the groups. We distinguished three clusters of sediment samples and two clusters of pore water samples. Sediment cluster 1 was comprised exclusively of surface samples from the Sand Engine; it was differentiated from the other two clusters by its geochemistry, sorting processes and weathering. Sediment clusters 2 consisted of shallow samples from the Sand Engine, as well as deeper autochthone material from the sand pit. Sediment cluster 3 contained deeper samples from the Sand Engine and also shallow autochthone material from the sand pit. Sediment clusters 2 and 3 show differences in carbonate content and, especially, in reactive iron, confirming that in the sand pit area a Holocene marine layer overlies Pleistocene fluvial sand. For the pore water samples, two clusters were estimated: a saline water cluster and a fresh water cluster. Thus the Sand Engine contains source material from two different geological layers, which vary in their reactive iron concentration and carbonate minerals. Pyrite oxidation is seen with depth, resulting in iron oxides and an increase in alkalinity because of calcite dissolution. With the development of the Sand Engine source material is expected to show a decrease in pyrite oxidation, because of low amount of available sulphide minerals. Carbonate dissolution due to pyrite oxidation will then decrease as well. Additional calcite dissolution is caused by freshening processes. With the amount of CaCO3 present in the sand, the Sand Engine contains calcareous-rich sand where acidic conditions are not likely to occur during its life span and therefore create no local environmental risks for acidification. At the surface of the mega beach nourishment, sorting processes are causing locally enrichment of iron oxides and associated elements, as well as a decrease in the stability of heavy minerals like rutile

Ecotoxicological risk of trace element mobility in coastal semi-artificial depositional areas near the mouth of the River Rhine, the Netherlands

Artifical sand replenishments are globally used as innovative coastal protection measures. In these replenishments elevated pore water concentrations of trace elements are found. This study investigated possible ecotoxicological risks at two intertidal depositional sites, the Sand Engine (SE) as a recent innovative Dutch coastal management project, and a semi-artificial tidal flat (TF). Using the Sediment Quality Triad approach, we considered three major lines of evidence (LoE): geochemical characterization, toxicity characterization using bioassays with the estuarine amphipod Corophium volutator and ecological field survey. In both depositional areas C. volutator is at risk: moderate (SE) and low (TF). For TF, the bioavailability of trace elements differs between the field site and the laboratory. Contamination from arsenic and copper is present, but the low survival rate of C. volutator from the bioassay suggests presence of additional contaminations. The highly morphological dynamic environment of SE creates a less favourable habitat for C. volutator, where local spots with stagnant water can temporary create hypoxic conditions and sulphate becomes reduced. The dynamic system mobilises especially arsenic, triggering adverse ecotoxic effects at low original sediment concentrations. To conclude, the Sediment Quality Triad approach shows that a semi-artificial tidal flat is preferred over a highly dynamic coastal management project like the Sand Engine. The Sand Engine concept does not provide suitable conditions for macrobenthos species like C. volutator, therefore limiting the nature development goal set together with the coastal protection goal. Assessing each LoE from the approach together with additional measurements established more precise and realistic conclusions, showing the need that evaluating contributions of this method is necessary to understand the causes of risk in a site-specific manner. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Can sand nourishment material affect dune vegetation through nutrient addition?

In the Netherlands it is common to nourish the coastline with sand from the seabed. Foredunes are replenished with sand from the beach and can be transported further into the dune area. We investigated whether nourishment material alters the phosphorus (P) content of dune soil and the nitrogen (N):P ratio of dune vegetation in two areas: a mega sand nourishment with fixed foredunes (SE) and a traditional sand nourishment with dynamic foredunes (NWC). Four zones were considered: beach (zone 1), frontal foredunes (zone 2), foredunes crest (zone 3) and inner dunes (zone 4). We estimated the characteristics of fine (< 250-μm) and coarse (250–2000 μm) sand. Total P, P speciation and available P of SE and NWC were similar until zone 4. Zone 1–3 consisted mainly of coarse sand, whereas the sand in zone 4 was finer with higher amounts at NWC. Iron (Fe) bound P was comparable for fine and coarse sand in zone 1–3, but high contents were present in zone 4. In zone 1–3, calcium (Ca) bound P was mainly found in the fine fraction, which was abundant in the coarse fraction of zone 4. After a period of 4 years, the effect of dynamic dunes on P fractions and dune plant species was not apparent yet, although inblowing sand mainly consisted of fine sand with high contents of Ca-bound P. This may change over time, especially in dynamic dunes with higher eolian activity of fine sand. Consequently, pH buffering of the soil may increase because of a higher Ca‑carbonate content, which leads to decreased solubility of Ca-bound P and low P availability for the vegetation. Both low P availability and high buffering capacity are known environmental factors that facilitate endangered dune plant species

Can sand nourishment material affect dune vegetation through nutrient addition?

In the Netherlands it is common to nourish the coastline with sand from the seabed. Foredunes are replenished with sand from the beach and can be transported further into the dune area. We investigated whether nourishment material alters the phosphorus (P) content of dune soil and the nitrogen (N):P ratio of dune vegetation in two areas: a mega sand nourishment with fixed foredunes (SE) and a traditional sand nourishment with dynamic foredunes (NWC). Four zones were considered: beach (zone 1), frontal foredunes (zone 2), foredunes crest (zone 3) and inner dunes (zone 4). We estimated the characteristics of fine (< 250-μm) and coarse (250–2000 μm) sand. Total P, P speciation and available P of SE and NWC were similar until zone 4. Zone 1–3 consisted mainly of coarse sand, whereas the sand in zone 4 was finer with higher amounts at NWC. Iron (Fe) bound P was comparable for fine and coarse sand in zone 1–3, but high contents were present in zone 4. In zone 1–3, calcium (Ca) bound P was mainly found in the fine fraction, which was abundant in the coarse fraction of zone 4. After a period of 4 years, the effect of dynamic dunes on P fractions and dune plant species was not apparent yet, although inblowing sand mainly consisted of fine sand with high contents of Ca-bound P. This may change over time, especially in dynamic dunes with higher eolian activity of fine sand. Consequently, pH buffering of the soil may increase because of a higher Ca‑carbonate content, which leads to decreased solubility of Ca-bound P and low P availability for the vegetation. Both low P availability and high buffering capacity are known environmental factors that facilitate endangered dune plant species