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COVID-19 Pandemic in Portugal: Psychosocial and Health-Related Factors Associated with Psychological Discomfort

Author

Listed:
  • José Pais-Ribeiro

    (Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
    William James Center for Research, ISPA-University Institute, 1100-304 Lisbon, Portugal)

  • Alexandra Ferreira-Valente

    (William James Center for Research, ISPA-University Institute, 1100-304 Lisbon, Portugal
    Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98104, USA)

  • Margarida Jarego

    (William James Center for Research, ISPA-University Institute, 1100-304 Lisbon, Portugal)

  • Elisabet Sánchez-Rodríguez

    (Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Unit for the Study and Treatment of Pain–ALGOS, Research Center for Behavior Assessment (CRAMC), Department of Psychology, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
    Institut d’Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, 43003 Catalonia, Spain)

  • Jordi Miró

    (Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Unit for the Study and Treatment of Pain–ALGOS, Research Center for Behavior Assessment (CRAMC), Department of Psychology, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
    Institut d’Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, 43003 Catalonia, Spain)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic is a stressful long-lasting event with an increasingly negative impact upon individuals. This study aimed at assessing the magnitude of depression, anxiety, and stress among adults living in Portugal during the first mandatory lockdown of 2020, and the psychosocial and health-related factors associated with these symptoms. A sample of 484 adults (73% women) with an average age of 40 years old (Standard Deviation, SD = 14.03) responded to an online survey. The survey included measures of depression, anxiety, stress, social support, COVID-19 interference in daily life, attitudes towards COVID-19, and health perception. The impact of the lockdown on psychological well-being was large, with up to 36% of the participants showing signs of at least mild psychological discomfort (i.e., depression, anxiety, and stress). Social support, COVID-19 interference on daily life, health perception, and age, explained all the dependent variables. Education level, income, attitudes towards COVID-19, and gender explained some of the dependent variables. These results suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic has a serious impact on the psychological health of Portuguese adults. The role of the procedures to control the pandemic on the mental health of Portuguese adults should not be underestimated.

Suggested Citation

  • José Pais-Ribeiro & Alexandra Ferreira-Valente & Margarida Jarego & Elisabet Sánchez-Rodríguez & Jordi Miró, 2022. "COVID-19 Pandemic in Portugal: Psychosocial and Health-Related Factors Associated with Psychological Discomfort," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-13, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:6:p:3494-:d:771967
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    5. Cristina Mazza & Eleonora Ricci & Silvia Biondi & Marco Colasanti & Stefano Ferracuti & Christian Napoli & Paolo Roma, 2020. "A Nationwide Survey of Psychological Distress among Italian People during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Immediate Psychological Responses and Associated Factors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-14, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Mingna Li & Bo Zhou & Bingbin Hu, 2022. "Relationship between Income and Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-14, July.
    2. Jordi Miró & Elisabet Sánchez-Rodríguez & M. Carme Nolla & Rui M. Costa & J. Pais-Ribeiro & Alexandra Ferreira-Valente, 2022. "The Role of Resilience, Happiness, and Social Support in the Psychological Function during the Late Stages of the Lockdown in Individuals with and without Chronic Pain," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-10, May.

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