Psychological Symptoms During the Two Stages of Lockdown in Response to the COVID-19 Outbreak: An Investigation in a Sample of Citizens in Northern Spain

Abstract

Spain has been in a state of emergency since 14th March due to the COVID-19 crisis. This state of emergency means that the population must comply with strict rules such as lockdown (confinement to their homes except for essential trips) and social distancing. The aim of this study was to examine the psychological state of the general population in a sample recruited in Northern Spain. Sociodemographic and psychological data were gathered, assessing variables such as stress, anxiety, and depression. A questionnaire was administered at the beginning of the lockdown and three weeks later. The sample was recruited using an online questionnaire by means of a non-probabilistic snowball sampling methodology. A total of 1,933 people participated in this study. The results reveal that more than a quarter of the participants have reported symptoms of depression (27.5%), anxiety (26.9%) and stress (26.5%) and as the time spent in lockdown has progressed, psychological symptoms have risen. In relation to gender, data indicate that men have higher levels of depression than women, and similar levels of anxiety and stress. Greater symptomatology has also been found among the younger population and in people with chronic diseases. We discuss the need to continue carrying out these types of studies to prevent and treat psychological problems that could emerge amidst this pandemic.

Changes in Diet, Sleep, and Physical Activity Are Associated With Differences in Negative Mood During COVID-19 Lockdown

“…Lockdown conditions were associated with higher negative mood overall. This is compatible with previous research indicating that reduced, or the perception of reduced, social contact and health-based fears are related to poor wellbeing ( Bai et al, 2004 ; Hawryluck et al, 2004 ; Cacioppo and Hawkley, 2009 ; Chen and Feeley, 2014 ) as well as previous research on psychological effects of quarantine or lockdown conditions ( Brooks et al, 2020 ; Ozamiz-Etxebarria et al, 2020 ). Our results show that improvement in negative mood states were found quite quickly after the easing of lockdown conditions.…”

“…Spending time in lockdown conditions has had a negative impact on mood, and this is in line with previously published work on the effects of COVID-19 lockdown on mental health ( Ozamiz-Etxebarria et al, 2020 ). These results add to the growing body of literature on health and wellbeing during and after the COVID-19 pandemic and demonstrates that changes to health behaviors during this time may be to come extent responsible for poorer mood, anxiety and depression.…”

“…Time spent in quarantine during previous disease outbreaks has been shown to have negative psychological effects ( Brooks et al, 2020 ). Psychological symptoms (stress, anxiety, depression) have been shown to rise in tandem with time spent in lockdown ( Ozamiz-Etxebarria et al, 2020 ). López-Bueno et al (2020) proposed that poorer psychological wellbeing and mental health during COVID-19 lockdown is associated with health behaviors such as alcohol consumption, diet, sleep, and physical activity.…”

Doctors’ Mental Health in the Midst of COVID-19 Pandemic: The Roles of Work Demands and Recovery Experiences

“…Our findings on the prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress among doctors were generally similar to the general population in other countries that implemented lockdown measures [ 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 ]. Physiologically, this could be due to the differences in exposure to sufficient sunlight during lockdown, which causes a fall in serotonin levels that is associated with emotional disorders such as anxiety and depression [ 40 , 43 ]. Psychologically, it could be due to sudden disruption in life routines, being frequently connected to the internet, avoiding activities due to peer pressure, or economic struggles [ 44 ].…”

Evaluating the Psychological Impacts Related to COVID-19 of Vietnamese People Under the First Nationwide Partial Lockdown in Vietnam

“…In addition, the epidemic is also occurring against the backdrop of growing mental health issues in particularly vulnerable groups in Vietnam ( 21 ). Previous studies suggested that people with different social-economic backgrounds and history/risk of exposure to the COVID-19 experienced a different severity level of mental health problems ( 13 , 22 , 23 ). Therefore, this study aimed to identify the psychological impacts of COVID-19 on Vietnamese people under the first nationwide lockdown.…”