Psychological Impact of COVID-19 lockdown_PREPRINT

This study addressed the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and examined factors exacerbating or mitigating the negative effects of lockdown. Results from a large multi-country online survey (N=8,229) showed average elevated levels of anxiety and depression (especially in the USA, UK, and Brazil), associated with feelings of low control and social isolation. Although social isolation increased with the duration of quarantine, it was mitigated by frequent communication with close others. Other mitigating factors include adaptive but not maladaptive coping, and the perception and trust that one’s government is dealing with the outbreak. Taking individual actions to avoid contracting the virus were associated with higher anxiety, except when done professionally by essential workers. We suggest that the psychological detrimental effects of lockdown can be alleviated by maintaining frequent social contact, adaptive coping, and governmental actions which show capability, benevolence, and integrity in managing a public health crisis.

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The Psychological Impact of Threat & Lockdown During the COVID-19 Pandemic

10.31234/osf.io/c8weq ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Valerie van Mulukom ◽

Barbara Muzzulini ◽

Bastiaan T Rutjens ◽

Caspar J. Van Lissa ◽

Miguel Farias

Keyword(s):

Online Survey ◽

Psychological Impact ◽

Social Contact ◽

Perceived Threat ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Adaptive Coping ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Health Crisis ◽

Individual Actions ◽

The Government

ObjectivesThis study aimed to investigate the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, particularly the effects of perceived threat and lockdown measures, and to elucidate individual and social factors exacerbating or mitigating its negative effects, particularly sense of control.Design An online survey was designed including questions about psychological wellbeing, lockdown behaviours, and perceived COVID-19 threat, risk, and knowledge.MethodsIndividuals (N=8,229; 39.4% male, 59.4% female, 1.1% other, Mage=38.3, SD=13.5, range = 18-88) were recruited in 79 countries via the snowballing method and social media, and completed the survey in March-April 2020. ResultsParticipant showed elevated levels of anxiety and depression during early stages of lockdown, predicted by perceived threat. Feelings of social isolation moderated the effect of threat on depression symptoms, and increased with the duration of quarantine, but was mitigated by frequent communication with close others. Sense of control was predicted negatively by maladaptive coping, but positively by adaptive coping and the perception that the government is dealing with the outbreak. Individual actions to avoid contracting the virus were associated with higher anxiety, except when done professionally by essential workers. ConclusionsWe suggest that the psychological detrimental effects of the pandemic – following perceived threat and lockdown measures – can be alleviated by individual actions such as maintaining frequent social contact and adaptive coping, and by governmental actions which demonstrate support in a public health crisis. Citizens and governments can work together to adapt better to restrictive but necessary measures during the current and future pandemics.

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Asthma patients experience increased symptoms of anxiety, depression and fear during the COVID-19 pandemic

Chronic Respiratory Disease ◽

10.1177/14799731211029658 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 ◽

pp. 147997312110296

Author(s):

Geertje M de Boer ◽

Laura Houweling ◽

Rudi W Hendriks ◽

Jan H Vercoulen ◽

Gerdien A Tramper-Stranders ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Online Survey ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Healthcare Facilities ◽

Care Workers ◽

Asthma Patients ◽

Negative Effect ◽

Patients Experience ◽

Anxiety Depression

Population studies showed a decrease in psychological wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Asthma is associated with a negative effect on anxiety and depression, which might worsen during the COVID-19 lockdown. The aim of the study was to compare fear, anxiety and depression between asthma patients and patients wit hout asthma pre-COVID-19 and during COVID-19 pandemic. This study compares fear, anxiety and depression in asthma patients and controls between pre-COVID-19 and during COVID-19 lockdown with a cross-sectional online survey. Participants were invited to fill out several questionnaires pertaining to fear, anxiety, depression, asthma control and quality of life. Asthma patients (N = 37) displayed, during the course of the pandemic, a clinically relevant increase in anxiety (3.32 ± 2.95 vs. 6.68 ± 3.78; p < 0.001) and depression (1.30 ± 1.15 vs. 3.65 ± 3.31; p < 0.001), according to the hospital anxiety and depression levels (HADS) compared to pre-COVID-19 assessment. This was not seen in controls. Also, asthma patients displayed more anxiety about acquiring COVID-19 disease compared to controls ((5.11 ± 1.99 vs. 3.50 ± 2.79), p = 0.006). Patients with asthma experienced an increase in anxiety and depression levels and were more afraid of acquiring COVID-19 disease compared to controls. Also, patients with asthma were more likely to avoid healthcare facilities due to fear of acquiring COVID-19 disease compared to controls. Therefore, we advise health care workers to address these possible negative effects on mental health by phone or e-consults.

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Investigating Community Pharmacy Take Home Naloxone Dispensing during COVID-19: The Impact of One Public Health Crisis on Another

Pharmacy ◽

10.3390/pharmacy9030129 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 129

Author(s):

George Daskalakis ◽

Ashley Cid ◽

Kelly Grindrod ◽

Michael A. Beazely

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Community Pharmacy ◽

Online Survey ◽

Comfort Level ◽

Future Research ◽

Health Crisis ◽

Public Health Crisis ◽

Pharmacy Technicians ◽

The Impact ◽

Overdose Deaths

A recent report found that the number of opioid-related deaths in Ontario in the first 15 weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic was 38.2% higher than in the 15 weeks before the pandemic. Our study sought to determine if pharmacy professionals self-reported an increase or decrease in naloxone provision due to the pandemic and to identify adjustments made by pharmacy professionals to dispense naloxone during the pandemic. A total of 231 Ontario community pharmacy professionals completed an online survey. Pharmacy professionals’ barriers, facilitators, and comfort level with dispensing naloxone before and during the pandemic were identified. The sample consisted of mostly pharmacists (99.1%). Over half (51.1%) reported no change in naloxone dispensing, while 22.9% of respondents reported an increase and 24.7% a decrease. The most common adjustments made during the pandemic were training patients how to administer naloxone over video or phone, delivering naloxone kits, and pharmacy technicians offering naloxone at prescription intake. Over half (55%) of participants said the top barrier for dispensing was that patients did not request naloxone. Naloxone distribution through pharmacies could be further optimized to address the increased incidence of overdose deaths during the pandemic. Future research should investigate the reasons for changes in naloxone dispensing.

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Meaning-Making Through Creativity During COVID-19

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2020.595990 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Author(s):

Hansika Kapoor ◽

James C. Kaufman

Keyword(s):

Adaptive Response ◽

Abrupt Change ◽

Meaning Making ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Health Crisis ◽

Public Health Crisis ◽

Making Sense ◽

The World ◽

Current Events ◽

Personal Community

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an abrupt change in routines and livelihoods all around the world. This public health crisis amplified a number of systemic inequalities that led to populations needing to grapple with universally difficult truths. Yet some individuals, firms, and countries displayed resilient and creative responses in coping with pressing demands on healthcare and basic sanity. Past work has suggested that engaging in creative acts can be an adaptive response to a changing environment. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to describe how entities at the personal, community, and national levels cultivated and expressed creativity in an effort to make meaning during COVID-19. By overlaying the Four C model of creativity on such responses, we aim to (a) to connect mini, little, Pro, and Big creative behaviors with our attempts to make meaning of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and (b) to suggest how engaging in creative expression can be used to guard against the adverse consequences of this outbreak. Acknowledging that this time has been and continues to be distressing and filled with uncertainty, we propose some ways of making sense of current events by applying original thinking across domains. Further, we propose how engaging in creativity can serve to buffer against the negative effects of living through the pandemic.

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Physical and Psychological Impact of the Phase One Lockdown for COVID-19 on Italians

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2020.563722 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Author(s):

Marco Tommasi ◽

Francesca Toro ◽

Simone Arnò ◽

Angelo Carrieri ◽

Marco Maria Conte ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Psychological Health ◽

Psychological Impact ◽

Well Being ◽

Physical Symptoms ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Psychological Conditions ◽

Natural Catastrophes ◽

Physical And Psychological Health ◽

At Home

The exceptional pandemic due to the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has obliged all Italians to stay at home. In the literature, there are evidences that traumatic global events, such as natural catastrophes and pandemic, have negative effects on the physical and psychological health of the population. We carried out a survey to analyze the physical and psychological conditions of Italians during the pandemic. Due to the severe limitations in moving during the phase one lockdown, the survey was administered by internet. Results show that Italians followed the provisions established by the Italian government to avoid contamination, but 43% of them declared to have suffered from physical symptoms, in particular migraine, sleep disorders, persistent exhaustion, and difficulty of concentration. They have great fear to be contaminated or that relatives or friends can be contaminated, and they actively take actions to avoid contamination. Participants declared that they had suffered a lot of inconveniences due to restrictions in their movements, and that their life habits were strongly changed. They spent their time at home in different activities, but their psychological well-being was strongly impaired by the lockdown. The level of anxiety tripled, in relation to the prepandemic period, and 30% of males and 41% of females declared to have severe levels of depression. Participants with high levels of optimism and hopefulness show a stronger resilience against anxiety and depression. In addition, there is a negative correlation between anxiety and depression and the five factors of personality. These results show that psychological diseases must not be neglected, and that people in lockdown do need support for their psychological health, also with the help of internet and communication technologies.

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A social media-based study on the psychological impact of COVID-19 infections in recovered and recovering patients

10.21203/rs.3.rs-74599/v3 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Vikesh Kumar ◽

Mohit Varshney ◽

Harmandeep Singh ◽

Amandeep Singh ◽

Julien S. Baker

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Online Survey ◽

Psychological Impact ◽

Recovery Phase ◽

Physical Symptoms ◽

Descriptive Statistics ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Social Media Platforms ◽

Study Participants

Abstract Objective: The WHO has stressed to regularly monitor the mental health of populations during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, we conducted this study to examine anxiety and depression among recovered and recovering COVID-19 patients. Subjects and Methods: An online survey was conducted using social media platforms. The study participants were COVID-19 infected individuals who had recovered or still were in the recovery phase from COVID-19. We collected information on demographics, clinical characteristics and physical complications of COVID-19. Anxiety and depressive symptoms were assessed using previously validated tools. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were applied to analyze the data. Results: 53.4% of respondents reported that they had a fear of getting COVID-19 again. Anxiety and depressive symptoms were present in 71.7% and 97.6% of respondents respectively. Both disorders were present in 71.3% of respondents. The respondents with shorter durations of physical symptoms (< 2 weeks) demonstrated less anxiety (OR = 0.19; 95% CI: 0.05 - 0.67) and depression (OR = 0.03; 95% CI: 0.01 - 0.37). Conclusion: Anxiety and depression appear as common psychological complications in COVID-19 recovering and recovered patients. Longer durations of COVID-19 related physical symptoms were associated with an increased likelihood of anxiety and depression.

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Crisis clinical pathway for COVID-19

Emergency Medicine Journal ◽

10.1136/emermed-2020-209933 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 37 (11) ◽

pp. 700-704

Author(s):

Edward Hyun Suh ◽

David J Bodnar ◽

Laura D Melville ◽

Manish Sharma ◽

Brenna M Farmer

Keyword(s):

New York ◽

Critically Ill ◽

Clinical Pathway ◽

Medical Decision Making ◽

Care Pathway ◽

Medical Decision ◽

Health Crisis ◽

Public Health Crisis ◽

Global Pandemic ◽

The Usa

The pandemic of COVID-19 has been particularly severe in the New York City area, which has had one of the highest concentrations of cases in the USA. In March 2020, the EDs of New York-Presbyterian Hospital, a 10-hospital health system in the region, began to experience a rapid surge in patients with COVID-19 symptoms. Emergency physicians were faced with a disease that they knew little about that quickly overwhelmed resources. A significant amount of attention has been placed on the problem of limited supply of ventilators and intensive care beds for critically ill patients in the setting of the ongoing global pandemic. Relatively less has been given to the issue that precedes it: the demand on resources posed by patients who are not yet critically ill but are unwell enough to seek care in the ED. We describe here how at one institution, a cross-campus ED physician working group produced a care pathway to guide clinicians and ensure the fair and effective allocation of resources in the setting of the developing public health crisis. This ‘crisis clinical pathway’ focused on using clinical evaluation for medical decision making and maximising benefit to patients throughout the system.

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Differential impact of physical distancing strategies on social contacts relevant for the spread of SARS-CoV-2: evidence from a cross-national online survey, March–April 2020

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2021-050651 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (10) ◽

pp. e050651

Author(s):

Emanuele Del Fava ◽

Jorge Cimentada ◽

Daniela Perrotta ◽

André Grow ◽

Francesco Rampazzo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Online Survey ◽

Age Groups ◽

Social Contact ◽

Face Mask ◽

Infection Transmission ◽

Contact Patterns ◽

The Face ◽

Gradual Introduction ◽

The Usa ◽

Net Reproduction

ObjectivesWe investigate changes in social contact patterns following the gradual introduction of non-pharmaceutical interventions and their implications for infection transmission in the early phase of the pandemic.Design, setting and participantsWe conducted an online survey based on targeted Facebook advertising campaigns across eight countries (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, UK and USA), achieving a sample of 51 233 questionnaires in the period 13 March–12 April 2020. Poststratification weights based on census information were produced to correct for selection bias.Outcome measuresParticipants provided data on social contact numbers, adoption of protective behaviours and perceived level of threat. These data were combined to derive a weekly index of infection transmission, the net reproduction number Rt .ResultsEvidence from the USA and UK showed that the number of daily contacts mainly decreased after governments issued the first physical distancing guidelines. In mid-April, daily social contact numbers had decreased between 61% in Germany and 87% in Italy with respect to pre-COVID-19 levels, mostly due to a contraction in contacts outside the home. Such reductions, which were uniform across age groups, were compatible with an Rt equal or smaller than one in all countries, except Germany. This indicates lower levels of infection transmission, especially in a period of gradual increase in the adoption rate of the face mask outside the home.ConclusionsWe provided a comparable set of statistics on social contact patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic for eight high-income countries, disaggregated by week and other demographic factors, which could be leveraged by the scientific community for developing more realistic epidemic models of COVID-19.

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Alcohol Consumption Patterns during COVID-19 Lockdown and Their Relationship with Perceived Immune Fitness and Reported COVID-19 Symptoms

Healthcare ◽

10.3390/healthcare9081039 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (8) ◽

pp. 1039

Author(s):

Agnese Merlo ◽

Pauline A. Hendriksen ◽

Noortje R. Severeijns ◽

Johan Garssen ◽

Gillian Bruce ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Consumption ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Online Survey ◽

Consumption Patterns ◽

Drinking Behaviour ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Mood Changes ◽

Stress Levels ◽

Weekly Alcohol Consumption

Since the outbreak of the 2019 coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, lockdown periods have been installed to counteract the spread of the virus. These lockdowns, characterized by social isolation, have been associated with mood changes and increased stress. Individuals have used various strategies to cope with the negative effects of being in lockdown, including increasing the frequency and quantity of alcohol consumption. The aim of this study was to investigate mood before and during lockdown of individuals who reported consuming more, less, or the same amount of alcohol during lockdown, and examine how this impacts and perceived immune fitness and the presence and severity of COVID-19 symptoms. Analysis included a sub-sample from the ‘Corona Lockdown: how fit are you?’ (CLOFIT) study, comprising N = 761 participants who reported consuming alcohol in 2020. The results of the online survey showed that half of the participants did not alter their weekly alcohol consumption during lockdown (50.4%), whereas 25.9% of drinkers reported a reduction and 23.8% reported an increase in weekly alcohol consumption. Compared to individuals that did not alter their drinking behaviour, both increased and reduced alcohol consumption during lockdown was associated with poorer mood and higher stress levels. Increased alcohol consumption was associated with significantly reduced perceived immune fitness and a high presence and severity of COVID-19 symptoms. This effect was not significant among individuals with reduced or unaltered alcohol consumption.

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Creating Community During COVID-19: A Virtual Art Gallery to Address Social Isolation During a Pandemic

Health Promotion Practice ◽

10.1177/15248399211064638 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 152483992110646

Author(s):

Sara E. Baumann ◽

Jessica G. Burke

Keyword(s):

Social Isolation ◽

Social Cohesion ◽

Well Being ◽

The United States ◽

Public University ◽

Positive Health ◽

Art Gallery ◽

Health Crisis ◽

Public Health Crisis ◽

Health And Well Being

The COVID-19 pandemic, a public health crisis, significantly impacted millions of people around the world. “Creating Community During COVID-19” is a community-engaged virtual art gallery that explores resilience, social cohesion, and creativity during the onset of the pandemic in the United States. It aimed to address social isolation and encourage inclusion at a large public university in the early days of the pandemic. The community was invited to submit artworks that reflected how they are staying connected during the pandemic. The artworks were then qualitatively analyzed and highlighted three key themes: (1) reflecting (turning inward), (2) advocating (turning outward), and (3) engaging (coming together). This arts-based project demonstrates promise as a creative approach for promoting social cohesion and positive health and well-being, especially in times of uncertainty.

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