Long-Term Impact of Economic Downturn and Loneliness on Psychological Distress: Triple Crises of COVID-19 Pandemic
Background: The COVID-19 crisis poses global mental health and global economy challenges. However, there is a lack of longitudinal research investigating whether financial instability and social disruption may increase the risk of developing mental health problems over time that may potentially outl...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Journal of Clinical Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/10/19/4596 |
| _version_ | 1797516101058297856 |
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| author | Shuyan Liu Matthias N. Haucke Stephan Heinzel Andreas Heinz |
| author_facet | Shuyan Liu Matthias N. Haucke Stephan Heinzel Andreas Heinz |
| author_sort | Shuyan Liu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The COVID-19 crisis poses global mental health and global economy challenges. However, there is a lack of longitudinal research investigating whether financial instability and social disruption may increase the risk of developing mental health problems over time that may potentially outlast the pandemic. Methods: We conducted an online survey for members of the general population (<i>n</i> = 2703) in Germany during the twelve months spanning from April 2020 to March 2021. We investigated the development of COVID-19 related psychological distress, the number of unemployed people, federal government debt, income distribution, and loneliness over the time period. Results: Over a period of twelve months, 53.6% of respondents in Germany reported experiencing psychological distress, varying from mild levels, 34.2%, to severe levels, 19.4%, of distress. High federal government debt, high incident COVID-19 cases, low incomes, and the prevalence of loneliness were found to be associated with increased long-term mental health problems. Psychological distress scores were most strongly increased in female and young respondents as well as those who reported fewer years of education, low income, and higher loneliness. Conclusions: Our study highlights factors that have a long-term impact on mental health amid the COVID-19 pandemic. We suggest that specific mental-health services could be offered to support high-risk groups experiencing financial fragility and loneliness. For purposes of safeguarding their mental health there is a need to monitor and track such risk factors in real time. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:56:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0051420aaf1547d992c7e2960800edd0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-0383 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:56:34Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Clinical Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-0051420aaf1547d992c7e2960800edd02023-11-22T16:21:49ZengMDPI AGJournal of Clinical Medicine2077-03832021-10-011019459610.3390/jcm10194596Long-Term Impact of Economic Downturn and Loneliness on Psychological Distress: Triple Crises of COVID-19 PandemicShuyan Liu0Matthias N. Haucke1Stephan Heinzel2Andreas Heinz3Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, GermanyDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, GermanyClinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Department of Education and Psychology, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, GermanyDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, GermanyBackground: The COVID-19 crisis poses global mental health and global economy challenges. However, there is a lack of longitudinal research investigating whether financial instability and social disruption may increase the risk of developing mental health problems over time that may potentially outlast the pandemic. Methods: We conducted an online survey for members of the general population (<i>n</i> = 2703) in Germany during the twelve months spanning from April 2020 to March 2021. We investigated the development of COVID-19 related psychological distress, the number of unemployed people, federal government debt, income distribution, and loneliness over the time period. Results: Over a period of twelve months, 53.6% of respondents in Germany reported experiencing psychological distress, varying from mild levels, 34.2%, to severe levels, 19.4%, of distress. High federal government debt, high incident COVID-19 cases, low incomes, and the prevalence of loneliness were found to be associated with increased long-term mental health problems. Psychological distress scores were most strongly increased in female and young respondents as well as those who reported fewer years of education, low income, and higher loneliness. Conclusions: Our study highlights factors that have a long-term impact on mental health amid the COVID-19 pandemic. We suggest that specific mental-health services could be offered to support high-risk groups experiencing financial fragility and loneliness. For purposes of safeguarding their mental health there is a need to monitor and track such risk factors in real time.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/10/19/4596mental health and wellbeingincomegovernment debtperceived social isolation |
| spellingShingle | Shuyan Liu Matthias N. Haucke Stephan Heinzel Andreas Heinz Long-Term Impact of Economic Downturn and Loneliness on Psychological Distress: Triple Crises of COVID-19 Pandemic Journal of Clinical Medicine mental health and wellbeing income government debt perceived social isolation |
| title | Long-Term Impact of Economic Downturn and Loneliness on Psychological Distress: Triple Crises of COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_full | Long-Term Impact of Economic Downturn and Loneliness on Psychological Distress: Triple Crises of COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_fullStr | Long-Term Impact of Economic Downturn and Loneliness on Psychological Distress: Triple Crises of COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Long-Term Impact of Economic Downturn and Loneliness on Psychological Distress: Triple Crises of COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_short | Long-Term Impact of Economic Downturn and Loneliness on Psychological Distress: Triple Crises of COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_sort | long term impact of economic downturn and loneliness on psychological distress triple crises of covid 19 pandemic |
| topic | mental health and wellbeing income government debt perceived social isolation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/10/19/4596 |
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