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Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health: An international study

Author

Listed:
  • Andrew T Gloster
  • Demetris Lamnisos
  • Jelena Lubenko
  • Giovambattista Presti
  • Valeria Squatrito
  • Marios Constantinou
  • Christiana Nicolaou
  • Savvas Papacostas
  • Gökçen Aydın
  • Yuen Yu Chong
  • Wai Tong Chien
  • Ho Yu Cheng
  • Francisco J Ruiz
  • Maria B Garcia-Martin
  • Diana P Obando-Posada
  • Miguel A Segura-Vargas
  • Vasilis S Vasiliou
  • Louise McHugh
  • Stefan Höfer
  • Adriana Baban
  • David Dias Neto
  • Ana Nunes da Silva
  • Jean-Louis Monestès
  • Javier Alvarez-Galvez
  • Marisa Paez-Blarrina
  • Francisco Montesinos
  • Sonsoles Valdivia-Salas
  • Dorottya Ori
  • Bartosz Kleszcz
  • Raimo Lappalainen
  • Iva Ivanović
  • David Gosar
  • Frederick Dionne
  • Rhonda M Merwin
  • Angelos P Kassianos
  • Maria Karekla

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic triggered vast governmental lockdowns. The impact of these lockdowns on mental health is inadequately understood. On the one hand such drastic changes in daily routines could be detrimental to mental health. On the other hand, it might not be experienced negatively, especially because the entire population was affected. Methods: The aim of this study was to determine mental health outcomes during pandemic induced lockdowns and to examine known predictors of mental health outcomes. We therefore surveyed n = 9,565 people from 78 countries and 18 languages. Outcomes assessed were stress, depression, affect, and wellbeing. Predictors included country, sociodemographic factors, lockdown characteristics, social factors, and psychological factors. Results: Results indicated that on average about 10% of the sample was languishing from low levels of mental health and about 50% had only moderate mental health. Importantly, three consistent predictors of mental health emerged: social support, education level, and psychologically flexible (vs. rigid) responding. Poorer outcomes were most strongly predicted by a worsening of finances and not having access to basic supplies. Conclusions: These results suggest that on whole, respondents were moderately mentally healthy at the time of a population-wide lockdown. The highest level of mental health difficulties were found in approximately 10% of the population. Findings suggest that public health initiatives should target people without social support and those whose finances worsen as a result of the lockdown. Interventions that promote psychological flexibility may mitigate the impact of the pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrew T Gloster & Demetris Lamnisos & Jelena Lubenko & Giovambattista Presti & Valeria Squatrito & Marios Constantinou & Christiana Nicolaou & Savvas Papacostas & Gökçen Aydın & Yuen Yu Chong & Wai T, 2020. "Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health: An international study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(12), pages 1-20, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0244809
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0244809
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Fabio Fontana & Kelsey Bourbeau & Terence Moriarty & Michael Pereira da Silva, 2022. "The Relationship between Physical Activity, Sleep Quality, and Stress: A Study of Teachers during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-9, November.
    2. Ilyass Dahmouni & Elnaz Kanani Kuchesfehani, 2022. "Necessity of Social Distancing in Pandemic Control: A Dynamic Game Theory Approach," Dynamic Games and Applications, Springer, vol. 12(1), pages 237-257, March.
    3. Dominika Ochnik & Aleksandra M. Rogowska & Ana Arzenšek & Joy Benatov, 2022. "Longitudinal Predictors of Coronavirus-Related PTSD among Young Adults from Poland, Germany, Slovenia, and Israel," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-15, June.
    4. Angel Christopher Zegarra-López & Brian Florentino-Santisteban & Jorge Flores-Romero & Ariana Delgado-Tenorio & Adriana Cernades-Ames, 2022. "A Cross-Sectional Study on the Prevalence of Depressive Symptoms and Its Associated Sociodemographic Factors in Peru during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-16, October.
    5. Rute Dinis Sousa & Ana Rita Henriques & José Caldas de Almeida & Helena Canhão & Ana Maria Rodrigues, 2023. "Unraveling Depressive Symptomatology and Risk Factors in a Changing World," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(16), pages 1-13, August.
    6. Kergall, Pauline & Guillon, Marlène, 2022. "Lockdown support, trust and COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs: Insights from the second national lockdown in France," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 126(11), pages 1103-1109.
    7. Roxana Schwab & Kathrin Stewen & Tanja Kottmann & Susanne Theis & Tania Elger & Bashar Haj Hamoud & Mona W. Schmidt & Katharina Anic & Walburgis Brenner & Annette Hasenburg, 2022. "Determinants of Pain-Induced Disability in German Women with Endometriosis during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-21, July.
    8. Usep Nugraha & Budy P. Resosudarmo & Rus’an Nasrudin, 2023. "Examining the impact of urban compactness on work and social life disruption during COVID-19 pandemic: evidence from Jakarta, Indonesia," Letters in Spatial and Resource Sciences, Springer, vol. 16(1), pages 1-26, December.

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