ArticleInternational journal of environmental research and public health2020
Commentary: Physiological and Psychological Impact of Face Mask Usage during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Article in International journal of environmental research and public health, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT05950256 (Physiological Impact of Surgical Mask and N95 Mask on Obese Operating Room Staff：A Randomized-Controlled Cross-Over Trial), which is not on this map. Cited by 80 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Physiological Impact of Surgical Mask and N95 Mask on Obese Operating Room Staff：A Randomized-Controlled Cross-Over Trial
Who cites it
80 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 260 citations in OpenAlex.
- Evidence of Face Masks and Masking Policies for the Prevention of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission and COVID-19 in Real-World Settings: A Systematic Literature Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2025Pooled it
- Masks and respirators for prevention of respiratory infections: a state of the science review.Clinical microbiology reviews · 2024Pooled it
- Returning to Work after the COVID-19 Pandemic Earthquake: A Systematic Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Pooled it
- Associations Between Wearing Masks and Respiratory Viral Infections: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review.Frontiers in public health · 2022Pooled it
- Psychological stress and coping strategies among frontline healthcare workers supporting patients with coronavirus disease 2019: a retrospective study and literature review.Therapeutic advances in respiratory diseasePooled it
- The pandemic legacy face mask: hidden barrier or insignificant factor in exercise performance?: A randomized crossover trial.Medicine · 2026Trial
- Respiratory pattern change in female and male runners by respiratory tract restriction using a respirator.PloS one · 2026Trial
- Physiological impact of surgical masks and N95 masks on obese operating room staff.Scientific reports · 2025Trial
- Comparison of Effects of N95 Respirators and Surgical Masks to Physiological and Psychological Health among Healthcare Workers: A Randomized Controlled Trial.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Trial
- Mask wearing increases eye involvement during smiling: a facial EMG study.Scientific reports · 2021Trial
- Effects of wearing a surgical face mask on cardiac biomarkers, respiratory function, and perceptual responses during exercise in a hot and humid climate at different intensities: a randomized crossover trial.BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation · 2026Article
- Does the use of protective face masks affect temporomandibular joint function?Pakistan journal of medical sciences · 2025Article
- Distribution of acute symptoms and long COVID-19 and their association with anxiety and depression 2 years after infection.Frontiers in public health · 2025Article
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- Consistent FFP2-masking as part of reducing viral respiratory infections on medical wards for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.Scientific reports · 2024Article
- FFP2 induced breathing resistance does not affect metabolism and well-being during brisk walking and stair climbing - a randomized controlled trial.Journal of occupational medicine and toxicology (London, England) · 2024Article
- Effects of Mask Usage During the COVID-19 Pandemic on Sign and Symptoms of Temporomandibular Joint Disorder: A Survey Study.Turkish journal of orthodontics · 2024Article
- Estimated public health impact of concurrent mask mandate and vaccinate-or-test requirement in Illinois, October to December 2021.BMC public health · 2024Article
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20 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
In this commentary, we discuss the physiological effects of wearing masks for prolonged periods of time, including special considerations, such as mask wearing among those who engage in exercise training, and concerns for individuals with pre-existing chronic diseases. In healthy populations, wearing a mask does not appear to cause any harmful physiological alterations, and the potentially life-saving benefits of wearing face masks seem to outweigh the documented discomforts (e.g. headaches). However, there continues to be controversy over mask wearing in the United States, even though wearing a mask appears to have only minor physiological drawbacks. While there are minimal physiological impacts on wearing a mask, theoretical evidence suggests that there may be consequential psychological impacts of mask wearing on the basic psychological needs of competence, autonomy, and relatedness. These psychological impacts may contribute to the controversy associated with wearing masks during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. After we discuss the physiological impacts of mask wearing, we will discuss psychological effects associated with wearing masks during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.