Face Masks Could Impair How Children Read Emotions

COVID-19 has changed the way we live. Face masks and social distancing have become the 'new normal. However, researchers now say that face masks could impair our ability to read emotions. The findings of this ground-breaking research were published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology .

Monica Gori led the team at the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT). They sought to investigate how facial masks impair the abilities of humans to make inferences from facial configurations.

Do You Wear Masks the Right Way?
In some countries, people started adopting the double-masking routine due to the pandemic's deadly second wave. However, worst-fitting masks can double the infection spread, reveals a study.

‘Children recognized happy and sad facial cues on only 40% of occasions where people used face masks.’

Tweet it Now

A total of 119 participants were enrolled in the study, of which 31 were toddlers from 3 to 5 years of age, 49 were children from 6 to 8 years of age, and 39 were adults from 18 to 30 years of age. All of them were native Italian speakers.

"In the study, we worked with children and adults with no forms of disability," explains Maria Bianca Amadeo, IIT researcher and co-author of the research study.

The team uploaded the images of people with and without facemasks and displayed them by computer, tablet, or smartphone. The participants, including children (with parental assistance), were asked to identify the facial cues in the images.

Schools Should 'NOT' Drop Wearing of Masks: CDC Study
Until vaccines are eligible for all children, schools should not abandon the practices such as wearing masks, washing hands, using sanitizers, to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Study highlights:

• People of all ages experienced difficulties in understanding emotions by recognizing the facial cues of people with face masks.

Efficiency of Different Masks in Protecting People Against COVID-19
Efficiency of 14 different face masks and covering in preventing the spread of viral droplets, were evaluated by a group of researchers. They used a simple, cost-effective method.

• Children aged between 3 and 5 years recognized happy and sad facial cues on only 40% of occasions where people used face masks.

• Children aged between 6 and 8 years recognized them on 55-65% of occasions where people used face masks.

New Method Allow Surgical Masks To Kill Viruses
Surgical masks are designed to kill influenza viruses that cause infections, reveals study.

• Adults recognized them on 70-80% of occasions where people used face masks.

"These observations are even more important when considering children affected by disabilities," she added.

This study emphasizes the use of transparent facemasks, at least for the childcare workers who in contact with children.

Source-Medindia