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Psychological Impact of Corona Lockdown in Germany: Changes in Need Satisfaction, Well-Being, Anxiety, and Depression

Author

Listed:
  • Malte Schwinger

    (Department of Psychology, University of Marburg, 35032 Marburg, Germany)

  • Maike Trautner

    (Department of Psychology, University of Marburg, 35032 Marburg, Germany)

  • Henrike Kärchner

    (Department of Psychology, University of Marburg, 35032 Marburg, Germany)

  • Nantje Otterpohl

    (Department of Psychology, University of Giessen, 35394 Giessen, Germany)

Abstract

All over the world; measures have been implemented to contain the novel Sars-CoV-2 virus since its outbreak in the beginning of 2020. These measures—among which social distancing and contact restrictions were most prominent—may have an overall effect on people’s psychological well-being. The present study seeks to examine whether lockdown measures affected people’s well-being; anxiety; depressive symptoms during the lockdown and whether these effects could be explained by reduced satisfaction of the basic psychological needs of autonomy and relatedness. N = 1086 participants of different ages and educational levels from all over Germany reported strong declines in autonomy and well-being; small declines in relatedness satisfaction; moderate increases in anxiety and depressive symptoms. These effects were stronger for people with moderate to bad subjective overall health. Latent change modeling revealed that, especially, decreases in autonomy satisfaction led to stronger decreases in well-being as well as stronger increases in anxiety and depressive symptoms; whereas decreases in relatedness had much weaker effects. Our results imply differential effects depending on individual preconditions; but also more generally that peoples’ need for autonomy was most strongly affected by the lockdown measures, which should be considered as important information in planning future lockdowns.

Suggested Citation

  • Malte Schwinger & Maike Trautner & Henrike Kärchner & Nantje Otterpohl, 2020. "Psychological Impact of Corona Lockdown in Germany: Changes in Need Satisfaction, Well-Being, Anxiety, and Depression," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:23:p:9083-:d:457293
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Shi Yu & Chantal Levesque-Bristol & Yukiko Maeda, 2018. "General Need for Autonomy and Subjective Well-Being: A Meta-Analysis of Studies in the US and East Asia," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 19(6), pages 1863-1882, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ricarda Steinmayr & Patrick Paschke & Linda Wirthwein, 2022. "Elementary School Students’ Subjective Well-Being Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(6), pages 2985-3005, August.
    2. Markus Wettstein & Hans-Werner Wahl & Anna Schlomann, 2022. "The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Trajectories of Well-Being of Middle-Aged and older Adults: A Multidimensional and Multidirectional Perspective," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(7), pages 3577-3604, October.
    3. Paige S. Randall & Paula D. Koppel & Sharron L. Docherty & Jennie C. De Gagne, 2022. "The Psychological Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Postsecondary Students: An Analysis of Self-Determination," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-14, July.
    4. Virginia Romano & Mirko Ancillotti & Deborah Mascalzoni & Roberta Biasiotto, 2022. "Italians locked down: people’s responses to early COVID-19 pandemic public health measures," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 9(1), pages 1-9, December.
    5. Zeliha Özlü-Erkilic & Oswald D. Kothgassner & Thomas Wenzel & Andreas Goreis & Anthony Chen & Veysi Ceri & Aylin Fakhr Mousawi & Türkan Akkaya-Kalayci, 2021. "Does the Progression of the COVID-19 Pandemic Have an Influence on the Mental Health and Well-Being of Young People? A Cross-Sectional Multicenter Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-14, December.
    6. Jule M. Finck & Sabine Bohnet & Katharina Auth & Imke Tangemann-Münstedt & Daniel Drömann & Klaas F. Franzen, 2022. "Smoking Behavior and Smoking Cessation Because of and during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Brief Online Survey 12 Months into the Pandemic and during the Second Wave in Europe," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-14, December.

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