Effect of Face Masks on Interpersonal Communication During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Interpersonal communication has been severely affected during the COVID-19 pandemic. Protective measures, such as social distancing and face masks, are essential to mitigate efforts against the virus, but pose challenges on daily face-to-face communication. Face masks, particularly, muffle sounds an...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Frontiers in public health Vol. 8; p. 582191
Main Authors:	Mheidly, Nour, Fares, Mohamad Y, Zalzale, Hussein, Fares, Jawad
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Switzerland Frontiers Media S.A 09-12-2020
Subjects:	Communication coronavirus COVID-19 Humans Masks pandemic pandemic (COVID-19) Personal Protective Equipment Public Health SARS-CoV-2 social distancing coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 pandemic (COVID-19) communication pandemic social distancing
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Summary:	Interpersonal communication has been severely affected during the COVID-19 pandemic. Protective measures, such as social distancing and face masks, are essential to mitigate efforts against the virus, but pose challenges on daily face-to-face communication. Face masks, particularly, muffle sounds and cover facial expressions that ease comprehension during live communication. Here, we explore the role of facial expressions in communication and we highlight how the face mask can hinder interpersonal connection. In addition, we offer coping strategies and skills that can ease communication with face masks as we navigate the current and any future pandemic.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 Edited by: Zisis Kozlakidis, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), France Reviewed by: Hassan Youssef Hotait, Dubai Health Authority, United Arab Emirates; Muditha Nanayakkara, The University of Sydney, Australia This article was submitted to Infectious Diseases - Surveillance, Prevention and Treatment, a section of the journal Frontiers in Public Health
ISSN:	2296-2565 2296-2565
DOI:	10.3389/fpubh.2020.582191