The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Health, Quality of Life and Intrafamilial Relations – A Population-Based Survey in Germany

Klein, Stephanie; Fegert, Jörg M.; Geprägs, Alina; Brähler, Elmar; Clemens, Vera

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.844057

Cited by 14 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…In a next step, we assessed further predictors for an increase of depressive symptoms during the pandemic, were ACEs were shown to be associated with a stronger increase in depressive symptoms. In line with this finding, ACEs were shown to be associated with a stronger decrease in quality of life and general health status during the pandemic [37,45]. Moreover, ACEs we have demonstrated that ACEs are associated with dysfunctional familiar coping strategies during the pandemic [35,36] and a higher risk for intrafamiliar problems [35,37,38].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

Adverse childhood experiences are associated with a higher risk for increased depressive symptoms during Covid-19 pandemic – a cross-sectional study in Germany

et al. 2022

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Background Covid-19 pandemic has been profoundly affecting people around the world. While contact restrictions, school closures and economic shutdown were effective to reduce infection rates, these measures go along with high stress for many individuals. Persons who have experienced adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have an increased risk for mental health problems already under normal conditions. As ACEs can be associated with a higher vulnerability to stress we aimed to assess the role of ACEs on depressive symptoms during the Covid-19 pandemic. Methods In a cross-sectional online survey, 1399 participants above the age of 18 years were included during the first lockdown in Germany. Via two-way repeated measures ANOVA, differences in depressive symptoms before (retrospectively assessed) and during the pandemic were analyzed. Linear regression analyses were performed in order to identify predictors for increase of depressive symptoms. Results Compared to prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, depressive symptoms increased among all participants. Participants with ACEs and income loss reported about a stronger increase of depressive symptoms. Other predictors for increased depressive symptoms were young age and a lack of social support. Conclusions Based on these results, ACEs are a significant predictor for an increase in depressive symptoms during the pandemic, indicating that personss with ACEs may be a risk group for mental health problems during the current and potential later pandemics. These findings underline the relevance of support for persons who have experienced ACEs and may help to provide more targeted support in possible scenarios due to the current or possible other pandemics. Besides, economic stability seems to be of prior importance for mental health.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

Adverse childhood experiences are associated with a higher risk for increased depressive symptoms during Covid-19 pandemic – a cross-sectional study in Germany

et al. 2022

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“…Therefore, data may be only partly comparable. Nonetheless, other data also suggest a decrease in life satisfaction in the German population associated with the pandemic, as seen in a survey conducted in winter 2021/2022 with more than half of the participants in a population-based German sample reporting a decreased quality of life since the beginning of the pandemic [ 25 ]. In our sample, however, the majority reported about an equal quality of life compared with before the pandemic.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As described before, the answers were summarized in the categories “better”, “equal” and “worse”. [ 25 ]. To assess Depressive symptoms, the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ2) was used.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In a recent population-based study, we were able to show that during the second wave of COVID-19 and lockdown in Germany in winter 2021/2022, more than half of participants reported a decreased quality of life compared to before the pandemic. Female gender, age above 60 years, a low household income, not living with a partner, and the experience of childhood adversity were associated with a higher risk for a worsening of quality of life [ 25 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Impact of Mental Health and Sociodemographic Characteristics on Quality of Life and Life Satisfaction during the Second Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic—Results of a Population-Based Survey in Germany

Geprägs

Bürgin

Fegert

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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A decreased quality of life was shown for numerous factors at the beginning of the pandemic. However, it is important to identify people who are at-risk for long-term impairments during the pandemic and its aftermath. Within this study, we aimed to investigate quality of life within a German population-based sample (2515 participants; 51.6% female; mean age 50.09 years) during the second year of the pandemic (2021). Our results showed that the majority reported no pandemic-associated change in quality of life at this state of the pandemic. Higher life satisfaction was associated with fewer mental health problems, no pre-existing somatic and psychiatric disorders, higher income, no income loss during the pandemic, living with others, and younger age. In contrast, in a high-risk group encompassing participants with lower quality of life, only mental health, pre-existing somatic disorders, and living alone had significant associations with quality of life, indicating a smaller scope for improvement in this high-risk group. Age, income loss, and depressive symptoms predicted a decrease in quality of life since the beginning of the pandemic. Our results highlight the importance of mental health, especially in times of pandemic, and underline the need for low-threshold mental health support.

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“…On the contrary, individuals with more severe pre-existing psychiatric illnesses were especially vulnerable to the consequences of COVID-19 [ 5 , 6 , 7 ], particularly suicide-related ideation and behavior [ 8 , 9 , 10 ]. Children and adolescents with exposure to previous or current adverse events and traumatic experiences were also especially vulnerable for consequences of the COVID-19 crisis [ 11 ], particularly physical and psychological violence within families [ 5 , 12 , 13 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How COVID-19 Phases Have Impacted Psychiatric Risk: A Retrospective Study in an Emergency Care Unit for Adolescents

et al. 2022

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Dramatic events during the COVID-19 pandemic have acutely impacted the psychosocial environment worldwide, with negative implications for mental health, particularly for more vulnerable children and adolescents with severe psychiatric illnesses. Some data suggest that the pandemic waves may have produced different psychopathological consequences, further worsening in the second phase of the pandemic, compared to those in the first lockdown, soon after March 2020. To test the hypothesis of a further worsening of psychiatric consequences of COVID-19 in the second lockdown compared to the first lockdown, we focused our analysis on a consecutive sample of youth referred to a psychiatric emergency unit for acute mental disorders in the time period between March 2019–March 2021. The sample, consisting of 241 subjects (123 males and 118 females, ranging in age from 11 to 17 years), was divided into three groups: Pre-Lockdown Group (PLG, 115 patients); First Lockdown Group (FLG, 65 patients); and Second Lockdown Group (SLG, 61 patients). Patients in the SLG presented more frequently with non-suicidal self-injuries (NSSIs), suicidal ideation, and suicidal behavior, while no significant differences in self-harm were found between PLG and FLG. Eating disorders were more frequent in both the FLG and SLG, compared to the PLG, while sleep problems were higher only in the SLG. Furthermore, patients in the SLG presented with more frequent psychological maltreatments and neglect, as well as with psychiatric disorders in the parents. Adverse traumatic experiences and internalizing disorders were significantly associated with an increased risk of suicidality. Intellectual disability was less represented from the PLG to SLG, and similarly, the rate of ADHD was lower in the SLG. No differences were found for the other psychiatric diagnoses. This information may be helpful for a better understanding and management of adolescents with severe emotional and behavioral disorders after the exposure to long-lasting collective traumas.

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The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Health, Quality of Life and Intrafamilial Relations – A Population-Based Survey in Germany

Cited by 14 publications

References 60 publications

Adverse childhood experiences are associated with a higher risk for increased depressive symptoms during Covid-19 pandemic – a cross-sectional study in Germany

Adverse childhood experiences are associated with a higher risk for increased depressive symptoms during Covid-19 pandemic – a cross-sectional study in Germany

The Impact of Mental Health and Sociodemographic Characteristics on Quality of Life and Life Satisfaction during the Second Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic—Results of a Population-Based Survey in Germany

How COVID-19 Phases Have Impacted Psychiatric Risk: A Retrospective Study in an Emergency Care Unit for Adolescents

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