Mental health in the Austrian general population during COVID-19: Cross-sectional study on the association with sociodemographic factors

Abstract

IntroductionThe impact of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and the associated governmental restrictions on mental health have been reported in different countries. This cross-sectional study evaluated mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic in Austria and the association with sociodemographic factors (i.e., age, sex, education, income, employment status, partnership status, and migration background).MethodsA representative sample (N = 1,031) of the Austrian general population was surveyed online end of April 2022. Indicators of mental health were depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), insomnia (ISI), alcohol abuse (CAGE), eating disorders (SCOFF), and stress (PSS-10).Results1,031 participants completed the online survey (50.3% women; mean age: 45.6 ± 17.23 years). Cut-offs for clinically relevant depression were exceeded by 28%. 16% scored above the cut-off for clinically relevant anxiety symptoms, 15% for clinical insomnia, 18% for alcohol abuse, 26% for eating disorders, and 65% for moderate to high stress. Comparisons with another cross-sectional representative Austrian sample recruited during the first weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic in Austria (April 2020) revealed increases in depression (from 21 to 28%) but no significant changes in anxiety, insomnia, and moderate to high stress. Multivariable logistic regression showed the strongest associations of mental health indicators with age, income, and sex. Increasing age and income were associated with lower odds of mental health symptoms. Being female compared to male increased the odds of depressive symptoms while decreasing the odds of alcohol abuse.DiscussionThe COVID-19 crisis seems particularly stressful for younger adults (<35 years) and people with low income (<€2,000 net household income per month). Policymakers need to consider the high social and economic costs of lockdowns and think of optimal intervention methods for mental disorders among young and low-income individuals.

Comparison of mental health indicators in clinical psychologists with the general population during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Potential reasons for the better mental health status of clinical psychologists as compared to the general population during the pandemic might be a better socioeconomic status of clinical psychologists that may have some protective function 21 , 22 . Multivariable analyses investigating the independent contribution of several sociodemographic factors (i.e., age, gender, education, income, employment status, partnership status, migration background) with mental health indicators carried out on the sample of the Austrian general population at hand, revealed that next to young age, low income was the main risk factor for poor mental health 15 . Therefore, it can be speculated that fewer economic challenges in clinical psychologists vs the general population contributed to the observed differences in mental health.…”

“…The COVID-19 situation in Austria was characterized by rather strict policies, including four nationwide strict lockdowns during the first two years of the pandemic 15 . The last nationwide lockdown ended in December 2021, while a lockdown for unvaccinated people remained in place until the end of January 2022 26 .…”

“…Studies conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic revealed moderate levels of resilience among healthcare workers 11 , 14 , emphasizing the need to foster mental hygiene and to promote resilience among healthcare personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic 11 . The increased mental health burden in the general population observed since the emergence of the pandemic 15 – 17 requires a state of high alert in mental healthcare professionals during as well as in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether clinical psychologists positively adapt to this extraordinary public health crisis with psychological growth or experience psychological injury, remains unknown to date.…”

An Assessment of Austrian School Students’ Mental Health and Their Wish for Support: A Mixed Methods Approach

“…The effects on their mental health appeared as increased insomnia, depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]. In Austria, the mental health of the general population also decreased perceptually during the pandemic [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]. Meta-analyses have shown that adolescents especially suffered from significant declines in their mental health [ 15 , 16 ].…”

Mental health in Austrian psychotherapists during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…However, although Austria—like most countries around the globe—lifted most protective measures in the spring of 2022, the latest data on mental health in the general population do not hint that the relaxation of measures is associated with improvements in mental health ( 27 ). Data collected end of April 2022 even observed higher rates of depression than in April 2020 and no improvement in anxiety, insomnia and stress symptoms ( 28 ).…”