How the COVID‐19 pandemic has changed our lives: A study of psychological correlates across 59 countries

Abstract

Objective This study examined the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic and subsequent social restrictions or quarantines on the mental health of the global adult population. Method A sample of 6,882 individuals (Mage = 42.30; 78.8% female) from 59 countries completed an online survey asking about several pandemic‐related changes in life and psychological status. Results Of these participants, 25.4% and 19.5% reported moderate‐to‐severe depression (DASS‐21) and anxiety symptoms (GAD‐7), respectively. Demographic characteristics (e.g. higher‐income country), COVID‐19 exposure (e.g., having had unconfirmed COVID‐19 symptoms), government‐imposed quarantine level, and COVID‐19‐based life changes (e.g., having a hard time transitioning to working from home; increase in verbal arguments or conflict with other adult in home) explained 17.9% of the variance in depression and 21.5% in anxiety symptoms. Conclusions In addition to posing a high risk to physical health, the COVID‐19 pandemic has robustly affected global mental health, so it is essential to ensure that mental health services reach individuals showing pandemic‐related depression and anxiety symptoms.

Quarantine, restrictions and mental health in the COVID-19 pandemic

“…In an effort to tease this issue out, one online survey of 6882 people across 59 countries explored the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent social restrictions or quarantines on adult mental health. 10 One quarter of respondents in this study reported moderate-to-severe depression and one fifth reported anxiety symptoms. Analysis of the correlates of depression and anxiety found that COVID-19-related life changes were the strongest predictors of higher depression and anxiety symptoms, over and above the effects of demographics, quarantine level and COVID-19 exposure.…”

Sleeping when the world locks down: Correlates of sleep health during the COVID-19 pandemic across 59 countries

“…Percentages of participants who endorsed each of the predictors in the hierarchical linear regression model have been published elsewhere. 20 In order to determine whether multicollinearity might be operating among the factors in the stepwise regression model, correlations were calculated among all predictors. No correlation coefficient exceeded an absolute value of 0.425, suggesting a lack of multicollinearity; as a result, nonsignificance of individual predictors within the model (including within each step of the regression model) could not be accounted for by overlapping predictors.…”

“…A list of the participating countries with sample size for each country has been published elsewhere. 20 …”

Non-pharmaceutical interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic: A review

“…The last column describes the country or countries focus of the survey and/or the location of the participants. Category Subcategory Sample size Country and Reference Health and wellbeing indicators Mental Health and wellbeing Italy [158] , 59 countries [159] Bangladesh [160] , China [161] , [162] , USA [163] , [164] , [165] , Serbia [166] Canada [167] , China [168] , Ghana [169] , Jordan [170] , Italy [171] , Russia and Belarus [26] , USA [172] , [173] , [174] USA [175] Netherlands [176] Health Behaviors China [177] , Spain …”

“…It interesting to notice the variety of angles and aspects covered in the surveys on mental health. In fact, they consider loneliness [164] , [172] , [174] , domestic abuse [170] , psychological mindset [26] , [158] , [159] , [160] , [163] , [165] , [166] , [168] , [169] , as well as particular groups of the population studying the toll on frontline workers [161] , students [173] , [175] , parents and children [162] , [167] , [171] , [176] . Several common themes as well as some conflicting results emerged from this research.…”