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Reutter M, Hutterer K, Gründahl M, Gall D, Dannlowski U, Domschke K, Leehr EJ, Lonsdorf TB, Lueken U, Reif A, Schiele MA, Zwanzger P, Pauli P, Hein G, Gamer M. Mental health improvement after the COVID-19 pandemic in individuals with psychological distress. Sci Rep 2024; 14:5685. [PMID: 38454076 PMCID: PMC10920823 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-55839-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic and associated countermeasures had an immensely disruptive impact on people's lives. Due to the lack of systematic pre-pandemic data, however, it is still unclear how individuals' psychological health has been affected across this incisive event. In this study, we analyze longitudinal data from two healthy samples (N = 307) to provide quasi-longitudinal insight into the full trajectory of psychological burden before (baseline), during the first peak, and at a relative downturn of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our data indicated a medium rise in psychological strain from baseline to the first peak of the pandemic (d = 0.40). Surprisingly, this was overcompensated by a large decrease of perceived burden until downturn (d = - 0.93), resulting in a positive overall effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health (d = 0.44). Accounting for this paradoxical positive effect, our results reveal that the post-pandemic increase in mental health is driven by individuals that were already facing psychological challenges before the pandemic. These findings suggest that coping with acute challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic can stabilize previously impaired mental health through reframing processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Reutter
- Department of Psychology I, Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, Marcusstr. 9-11, 97070, Würzburg, Germany.
| | - Katharina Hutterer
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Clinical Anxiety Research, Center of Mental Health, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Marthe Gründahl
- Translational Social Neuroscience Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Center of Mental Health, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Dominik Gall
- Department of Psychology I, Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, Marcusstr. 9-11, 97070, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Udo Dannlowski
- Institute for Translational Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Katharina Domschke
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), Partner Site Berlin/Potsdam, Berlin, Germany
| | - Elisabeth J Leehr
- Institute for Translational Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Tina B Lonsdorf
- Institute for Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Psychology, Biological Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Bielefeld, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Ulrike Lueken
- Department of Psychology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), Partner Site Berlin/Potsdam, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreas Reif
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Miriam A Schiele
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Peter Zwanzger
- kbo-Inn-Salzach-Klinikum, Clinical Center for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Psychosomatic Medicine, Geriatrics and Neurology, Wasserburg/Inn, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry, Ludwig-Maximilian-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Paul Pauli
- Department of Psychology I, Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, Marcusstr. 9-11, 97070, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Grit Hein
- Translational Social Neuroscience Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Center of Mental Health, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Matthias Gamer
- Department of Psychology I, Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, Marcusstr. 9-11, 97070, Würzburg, Germany
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Andreatta M, Jongerling J, Wieser MJ. Context-Dependent Responses to the Spread of COVID-19 Among National and International Students During the First Lockdown: An Online Survey. Disaster Med Public Health Prep 2023; 17:e485. [PMID: 37680189 DOI: 10.1017/dmp.2023.118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Restrictions to minimize social contact was necessary to prevent the spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus but may have impacted individuals' mental well-being. Emotional responses are modulated by contextual information. Living abroad during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may have boosted the feeling of isolation as the context is unfamiliar. OBJECTIVES This study compared the psychological impact of social distancing in national students (living in a familiar context) versus international students (living in an unfamiliar context). METHODS During March/April 2020 (first lockdown in the Netherlands), 850 university students completed an online survey. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was conducted to compare how students' responses to the virus were predicted by health anxiety, emotional distress, and personal traits. RESULTS Compared with national students, international students showed higher levels in 4 identified factors (COVID-19-related worry, perceived risk of infection, distance from possibly contaminated objects, distance from social situations). The factors were mainly predicted by health anxiety across international students, while emotional distress and individual traits (eg, intolerance of uncertainty) played a role across national students. CONCLUSIONS In the familiar context, individual characteristics (traits) predicted the responses to the virus, while the unfamiliar context drove individuals' health-focused responses. Living in a foreign country is associated with psychological burdens and this should be considered by universities for more pronounced social support and clear references to health-related institutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Andreatta
- Department of Psychology, Education and Child Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Joran Jongerling
- Department of Methodology and Statistics, Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Science, Tilburg, Netherlands
| | - Matthias J Wieser
- Department of Psychology, Education and Child Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Netherlands
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Mao Y, Ma W, Kang D, Miao Y, Fu H, Zhang B, Zhang J, Wu J. Fear of COVID-19 among cancer patients in Henan Province, Central China: causes, results, and coping factors. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1122894. [PMID: 37397338 PMCID: PMC10312372 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1122894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives Cancer patients exhibit fear of COVID-19, which could lead to serious consequences. However, minimal information is available about the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of cancer patients. Therefore, this study aims to examine the fear level of COVID-19 among cancer patients in Henan Province, Central China and to identify its causes, results, and coping factors. Methods An online survey was conducted among 1,067 cancer patients. The participants reported their individual fear level of COVID-19, risk of COVID-19 infection, risk of death from COVID-19, COVID-19 vaccination concerns, influence level of COVID-19 pandemic on their disease treatment, loneliness due to COVID-19, economic burden from COVID-19, quality of life, safety behavior, information regarding COVID-19 vaccination, psychological guidance, physical activities, and demographic characteristics. Chi-square and cumulative logistic regression were used to determine the predictors of COVID-19 fear level. Results This study indicates that cancer patients report moderate fear level of COVID-19 in Central China (66.9%). The six cause factors (risk of COVID-19 infection, risk of death from COVID-19, COVID-19 vaccination concerns, influence level of COVID-19 pandemic on disease treatment, loneliness due to COVID-19, and economic burden from COVID-19) were positively associated with COVID-19 fear level. Three coping factors (information regarding COVID-19 vaccination, psychological guidance, and physical activities) were negatively associated with COVID-19 fear level. COVID-19 fear level was negatively associated with quality of life and positively associated with safety behavior. Conclusion Our results suggest that governments should improve access to personalized vaccine counseling and psychological guidance by undertaking the responsibility of patients' attending physicians and increasing publicity. Physical activities should be included in the treatment program to help cancer patients better recover their physical and mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiqing Mao
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Institute for Hospital Management of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Wenjie Ma
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Dingding Kang
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yudong Miao
- College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Institute for Hospital Management of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Hang Fu
- Institute for Hospital Management of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, China
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Bowen Zhang
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jiangong Zhang
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jian Wu
- College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Institute for Hospital Management of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, China
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Olatunji BO, Cox RC, Cole DA. Longitudinal trajectories of coronavirus anxiety and health behavior use before and after the U.S. 2020 presidential election: The effects of political orientation. J Anxiety Disord 2022; 92:102643. [PMID: 36283183 PMCID: PMC9575577 DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2022.102643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 08/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Although heightened anxiety and health behavior use (i.e., masking, hand washing) may be viewed as an adaptive response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, it is unclear how the politicization of the pandemic has influenced the trajectory of such responses. Accordingly, the present study examined differences between those that identify as more conservative or liberal in the trajectory of anxiety and health behaviors during the pandemic. This study also examines shifts in this trajectory before and after the presidential election. As part of a larger study, participants (N = 374) completed a symptom survey starting on May 27, 2020 every 2 weeks for a total of 15 timepoints over 30 weeks. The findings showed that more conservative participants reported lower levels of COVID-19 anxiety and less health behavior use compared to more liberal participants. In fact, anxiety levels increased slightly for more liberal participants and decreased slightly for more conservative participants during the pre-election time frame. Health behavior use also decreased more rapidly for conservative participants than for liberal participants during the pre-election time frame. However, COVID-19 anxiety and health behavior use rose sharply and similarly for both liberal and conservative individuals after the election. Importantly, these patterns were independent of state level variability in COVID-19 positivity and death rates. Subsequent analysis also revealed significant relations between COVID-19 anxiety and health behavior use that was slightly stronger among conservatives. Implications of these findings for navigating the influence of political ideology on anxiety-related responses during a public health emergency like the COVID-19 pandemic are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bunmi O. Olatunji
- Vanderbilt University, USA,Correspondence to: Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, 301 Wilson Hall, 111 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37203, USA
| | - Rebecca C. Cox
- Vanderbilt University, USA,University of Colorado-Boulder, USA
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