Christoph Pieh1, Sanja Budimir2, Thomas Probst3. 1. Department for Psychotherapy and Biopsychosocial Health, Danube University Krems, Krems, Austria. Electronic address: Christoph.pieh@donau-uni.ac.at. 2. Department for Psychotherapy and Biopsychosocial Health, Danube University Krems, Krems, Austria; Department of Work, Organization and Society, Ghent University, Belgium. 3. Department for Psychotherapy and Biopsychosocial Health, Danube University Krems, Krems, Austria.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The impact of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the governmental restrictions on mental health have been reported for different countries. This study evaluated mental health during COVID-19 lockdown in Austria and the effect of age, gender, income, work, and physical activity. METHODS: An online survey was performed through Qualtrics® after four weeks of lockdown in Austria to recruit a representative sample regarding gender, age, education, and region. Indicators of mental health were quality of life (WHO-QOL BREF), well-being (WHO-5), depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), stress (PSS-10), and sleep quality (ISI). RESULTS: In total, N = 1005 individuals were included (53% women). 21% scored above the cut off ≥10 points (PHQ-9) for moderate depressive symptoms, 119% scored above the cut-off ≥10 points (GAD-7) for moderate anxiety symptoms, and 16% above the cut-off ≥15 points (ISI) for clinical insomnia. ANOVAs, Bonferroni-corrected post-hoc tests, and t-tests showed highest mental health problems in adults under 35 years, women, people with no work, and low income (all p-values <.05). Comparisons with a large Austrian sample recruited within the ATHIS 2014 study showed increases of depression and decreases of quality of life in times of COVID-19 as compared to before COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS: Depressive symptoms (21%) and anxiety symptoms (19%) are higher during COVID-19 compared to previous epidemiological data. 16% rated over the cut-off for moderate or severe clinical insomnia. The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown seems particularly stressful for younger adults (<35 years), women, people without work, and low income.
BACKGROUND: The impact of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the governmental restrictions on mental health have been reported for different countries. This study evaluated mental health during COVID-19 lockdown in Austria and the effect of age, gender, income, work, and physical activity. METHODS: An online survey was performed through Qualtrics® after four weeks of lockdown in Austria to recruit a representative sample regarding gender, age, education, and region. Indicators of mental health were quality of life (WHO-QOL BREF), well-being (WHO-5), depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), stress (PSS-10), and sleep quality (ISI). RESULTS: In total, N = 1005 individuals were included (53% women). 21% scored above the cut off ≥10 points (PHQ-9) for moderate depressive symptoms, 119% scored above the cut-off ≥10 points (GAD-7) for moderate anxiety symptoms, and 16% above the cut-off ≥15 points (ISI) for clinical insomnia. ANOVAs, Bonferroni-corrected post-hoc tests, and t-tests showed highest mental health problems in adults under 35 years, women, people with no work, and low income (all p-values <.05). Comparisons with a large Austrian sample recruited within the ATHIS 2014 study showed increases of depression and decreases of quality of life in times of COVID-19 as compared to before COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS:Depressive symptoms (21%) and anxiety symptoms (19%) are higher during COVID-19 compared to previous epidemiological data. 16% rated over the cut-off for moderate or severe clinical insomnia. The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown seems particularly stressful for younger adults (<35 years), women, people without work, and low income.
Authors: Michiel A J Luijten; Maud M van Muilekom; Lorynn Teela; Tinca J C Polderman; Caroline B Terwee; Josjan Zijlmans; Leonie Klaufus; Arne Popma; Kim J Oostrom; Hedy A van Oers; Lotte Haverman Journal: Qual Life Res Date: 2021-05-15 Impact factor: 4.147
Authors: Zainab Alimoradi; Anders Broström; Hector W H Tsang; Mark D Griffiths; Shahab Haghayegh; Maurice M Ohayon; Chung-Ying Lin; Amir H Pakpour Journal: EClinicalMedicine Date: 2021-06-10