Risk, resilience, psychological distress, and anxiety at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany.
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Anxiety
/ psychology
COVID-19
/ psychology
Depression
/ psychology
Female
Humans
Male
Mental Health
Middle Aged
Pandemics
Psychological Distress
Resilience, Psychological
Risk Assessment
Stress, Psychological
/ psychology
Surveys and Questionnaires
Young Adult
adjustment disorders
anxiety/anxiety disorders
coping
corona
depression
Journal
Brain and behavior
ISSN: 2162-3279
Titre abrégé: Brain Behav
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 101570837
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
09 2020
09 2020
Historique:
received:
05
05
2020
revised:
09
06
2020
accepted:
19
06
2020
pubmed:
8
7
2020
medline:
29
12
2020
entrez:
8
7
2020
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
The current COVID-19 pandemic comes with multiple psychological stressors due to health-related, social, economic, and individual consequences and may cause psychological distress. The aim of this study was to screen the population in Germany for negative impact on mental health in the current COVID-19 pandemic and to analyze possible risk and protective factors. A total of 6,509 people took part in an online survey in Germany from 27 March to 6 April. The questionnaire included demographic information and ascertained psychological distress, anxiety and depressive symptoms, and risk and protective factors. In our sample, over 50% expressed suffering from anxiety and psychological distress regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants spent several hours per day thinking about COVID-19 (M = 4.45). Psychological and social determinants showed stronger associations with anxiety regarding COVID-19 than experiences with the disease. The current COVID-19 pandemic does cause psychological distress, anxiety, and depression for large proportions of the general population. Strategies such as maintaining a healthy lifestyle and social contacts, acceptance of anxiety and negative emotions, fostering self-efficacy, and information on where to get medical treatment if needed, seem of help, while substance abuse and suppression of anxiety and negative emotions seem to be associated with more psychological burden.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
The current COVID-19 pandemic comes with multiple psychological stressors due to health-related, social, economic, and individual consequences and may cause psychological distress. The aim of this study was to screen the population in Germany for negative impact on mental health in the current COVID-19 pandemic and to analyze possible risk and protective factors.
METHODS
A total of 6,509 people took part in an online survey in Germany from 27 March to 6 April. The questionnaire included demographic information and ascertained psychological distress, anxiety and depressive symptoms, and risk and protective factors.
RESULTS
In our sample, over 50% expressed suffering from anxiety and psychological distress regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants spent several hours per day thinking about COVID-19 (M = 4.45). Psychological and social determinants showed stronger associations with anxiety regarding COVID-19 than experiences with the disease.
CONCLUSIONS
The current COVID-19 pandemic does cause psychological distress, anxiety, and depression for large proportions of the general population. Strategies such as maintaining a healthy lifestyle and social contacts, acceptance of anxiety and negative emotions, fostering self-efficacy, and information on where to get medical treatment if needed, seem of help, while substance abuse and suppression of anxiety and negative emotions seem to be associated with more psychological burden.
Identifiants
pubmed: 32633464
doi: 10.1002/brb3.1745
pmc: PMC7361063
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
e01745Informations de copyright
© 2020 The Authors. Brain and Behavior published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
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