The relationship between COVID-19-induced death thoughts and depression during a national lockdown

Fairlamb, Samuel

doi:10.1177/13591053211067102

Cited by 8 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…Additionally, a large proportion of the population experienced the loss of family members or beloved ones among the over 150,000 deaths due to COVID-19 in Germany ( 72 ). Nevertheless, recent studies indicate that an increased salience of death due to the COVID-19 pandemic would also be associated with an increase in the level of depressive symptoms, which was not the case in the present study ( 73 – 75 ). Additionally, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which started in February 2022, the recent energy crisis, economic changes, rising inflation rates, climate change and related worry in youths and adolescents ( 76 – 78 ) could, to some extent, contribute to an explanation of this specific increase in only suicidal ideation, but further research is needed.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 85%

Two years COVID-19 pandemic: Development of university students' mental health 2020–2022

et al. 2023

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BackgroundThe literature indicates a negative impact on the mental health of university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. It remains unclear if this negative impact persists even after lockdown measures are lifted. The current study therefore investigates the mental health status of students by drawing on two previous studies the present study seeks to investigate differences in the mental health status across three time points.MethodsA cross-sectional, anonymous online survey among students of six universities was conducted between April and May 2022 (N = 5,510). Symptoms of depression, anxiety, hazardous alcohol use and eating disorders as well as social and emotional variables were assessed utilizing standardized instruments. Risk- and protective factors for severity of depressive and anxiety symptoms were investigated using multiple regression models. Differences in e.g., symptoms of depression across three time points were assessed with one-way analysis of variance.ResultsMore than one third of students exhibited clinically relevant symptoms of depression (35.5%), hazardous alcohol use (33.0–35.5% depending on gender) or anxiety disorder (31.1%). Taken together, almost two out of three (61.4%) students reported clinically relevant symptoms in at least one of the aforementioned symptom patterns, while almost one fifth of students reported suicidal ideation or thoughts of self-harm (19.6%). Higher perceived stress and loneliness significantly predicted higher levels of depressive symptoms, while resilience and social support were identified as protective factors. Compared to 2020 and 2021, levels of depressive symptoms were significantly reduced in 2022, levels of hazardous alcohol consumption showed a small but significant increase from 2021 to 2022. Worryingly, prevalence of suicidal ideation was the highest yet, being significantly higher than in 2020 (14.5%) and 2021 (16.5%).ConclusionThese results confirm previous results that the pandemic had and still has a negative impact on the mental health of university students. The present study broadens this view by the fact that some areas seem to recover quicker, while others seem to increase worryingly. Especially the persistent rise in suicidal ideation from 2020 to 2021 and to 2022, a constant reduction in reported social support and associated perceived loneliness is concerning. The claim for low-threshold and accessible mental health support for university students remains the same as in the beginning of the pandemic.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 85%

Two years COVID-19 pandemic: Development of university students' mental health 2020–2022

et al. 2023

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“…People's sources of meaning in life help to achieve psychological adaptation (Chen et al, 2022 ). Further research findings suggest that heightened existential questions may be a neglected factor in increasing depression during the pandemic (Fairlamb, 2022 ). Our findings of cognitive changes can be challenging for the atheist state of the Czech Republic.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…During the first stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence of depression and anxiety significantly increased worldwide (Xiong et al, 2020 ; Pieh et al, 2021 ; Fairlamb, 2022 ; Yu et al, 2022 ). The United Nations has issued a warning regarding the emergence of mental health crisis related to COVID-19 (Xiong et al, 2020 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Czech citizens: how do depression and anxiety symptoms influence cognitive, behavioral, and emotional changes?

et al. 2023

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BackgroundThis study examined the impact of anxiety and depression symptoms during the first stage of the COVID-19 pandemic on the behavioral, cognitive, and emotional changes of the Czech population.MethodsThe research sample (n = 2363; 48.83 ± 16.53 years; 50.15% men) was obtained using an online survey. Depression and anxiety symptoms were measured using the Overall Depression Severity and Impairment Scale (ODSIS) and the Overall Anxiety Severity and Impairment Scale (OASIS) and associations were adjusted for age, gender, and economic status.ResultsThe results showed that increased symptoms of anxiety and depression were significantly linked to feelings of loneliness, helplessness, reduced quality of relationship with a partner, higher probabilities of alcohol abuse, food consumption, and contemplation of existential questions. Higher symptoms of anxiety were associated with feelings of being threatened. Higher symptoms of depression symptoms increased tobacco abuse.ConclusionDuring the first stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, higher symptoms of anxiety and depression among Czech citizens were associated with behavioral, cognitive, and emotional changes.

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“…There are significant impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown measures on psychological wellbeing including anxiety and depression, [ 22 , 23 ] and psychological wellbeing is known to influence patients' quality of life and perceptions of their pain and function [ 24 – 26 ]. However, despite this, our study has shown no overall differences in ODI scores between patients during lockdown and those taken from patients before lockdown.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions on oswestry disability index scores: a comparative cross-sectional study

et al. 2022

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Purpose Lockdown measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic restricted social interactions and travel. This retrospective, observational study was conducted to evaluate the effect of lockdown restrictions on Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores in patients with spinal conditions. Methods Prospectively collected data from the British Spine Registry were retrospectively analysed in two groups. The study group included patients' baseline pre-operative ODI scores collected during the first national lockdown in the UK between March and May 2020. The reference group included ODI scores recorded during the same period in 2019, before the pandemic. Scores were compared between groups using the Mann–Whitney U test. We also calculated modified scores that omitted responses to questions related to travel and social life. These were compared using Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test and Bland–Altman analyses. Results The median ODI scores for the reference and lockdown groups were 49 and 45, respectively, with no significant differences in the mean ranks ( p = 0.068). Comparisons of original and modified ODI scores showed different outcomes for each study group. No significant differences were observed in the lockdown group ( p = 0.06). However, for the pre-COVID-19 reference group, there was a significant difference ( p < 0.01). Bland–Altman analyses showed reasonable agreement between the methods for calculating ODI in both groups. Conclusion We found no clinically important differences in ODI scores between the two groups. The findings suggest that the ODI is reliable during lockdown situations and can be used with confidence in the future research using both retrospective and prospective data. Level of evidence Level 3.

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The relationship between COVID-19-induced death thoughts and depression during a national lockdown

Cited by 8 publications

References 44 publications

Two years COVID-19 pandemic: Development of university students' mental health 2020–2022

Two years COVID-19 pandemic: Development of university students' mental health 2020–2022

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Czech citizens: how do depression and anxiety symptoms influence cognitive, behavioral, and emotional changes?

The effect of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions on oswestry disability index scores: a comparative cross-sectional study

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