Anxiety and Depression in Belgium during the First 15 Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study
The COVID-19 pandemic and policy measures enacted to contain the spread of the coronavirus have had nationwide psychological effects. This study aimed to assess the impact of the first 15 months of the COVID-19 pandemic on the level of anxiety (GAD-7 scale) and depression (PHQ-9 scale) of the Belgia...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-05-01
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| Series: | Behavioral Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/12/5/141 |
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| author | Helena Bruggeman Pierre Smith Finaba Berete Stefaan Demarest Lize Hermans Elise Braekman Rana Charafeddine Sabine Drieskens Karin De Ridder Lydia Gisle |
| author_facet | Helena Bruggeman Pierre Smith Finaba Berete Stefaan Demarest Lize Hermans Elise Braekman Rana Charafeddine Sabine Drieskens Karin De Ridder Lydia Gisle |
| author_sort | Helena Bruggeman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The COVID-19 pandemic and policy measures enacted to contain the spread of the coronavirus have had nationwide psychological effects. This study aimed to assess the impact of the first 15 months of the COVID-19 pandemic on the level of anxiety (GAD-7 scale) and depression (PHQ-9 scale) of the Belgian adult population. A longitudinal study was conducted from April 2020 to June 2021, with 1838 respondents participating in 6 online surveys. Linear mixed models were used to model the associations between the predictor variables and the mental health outcomes. Results showed that the prevalence of symptoms of anxiety and depression was higher in times of stricter policy measures. Furthermore, after the initial stress from the outbreak, coping and adjustment were observed in participants, as symptoms of anxiety and depression decreased during times of lower policy restrictions to almost the same level as in pre-COVID times (2018). Though time trends were similar for all population subgroups, higher levels of both anxiety and depression were generally found among women, young people, people with poor social support, extraverts, people having pre-existing psychological problems, and people who were infected/exposed to the COVID-19 virus. Therefore, investment in mental health treatment programs and supports, especially for those risk groups, is crucial. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:20:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0082d208e895489c8597b47efb661ef3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-328X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:20:00Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Behavioral Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-0082d208e895489c8597b47efb661ef32023-11-23T10:05:05ZengMDPI AGBehavioral Sciences2076-328X2022-05-0112514110.3390/bs12050141Anxiety and Depression in Belgium during the First 15 Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal StudyHelena Bruggeman0Pierre Smith1Finaba Berete2Stefaan Demarest3Lize Hermans4Elise Braekman5Rana Charafeddine6Sabine Drieskens7Karin De Ridder8Lydia Gisle9Sciensano, Epidemiology and Public Health, 1050 Brussels, BelgiumSciensano, Epidemiology and Public Health, 1050 Brussels, BelgiumSciensano, Epidemiology and Public Health, 1050 Brussels, BelgiumSciensano, Epidemiology and Public Health, 1050 Brussels, BelgiumSciensano, Epidemiology and Public Health, 1050 Brussels, BelgiumSciensano, Epidemiology and Public Health, 1050 Brussels, BelgiumSciensano, Epidemiology and Public Health, 1050 Brussels, BelgiumSciensano, Epidemiology and Public Health, 1050 Brussels, BelgiumSciensano, Epidemiology and Public Health, 1050 Brussels, BelgiumSciensano, Epidemiology and Public Health, 1050 Brussels, BelgiumThe COVID-19 pandemic and policy measures enacted to contain the spread of the coronavirus have had nationwide psychological effects. This study aimed to assess the impact of the first 15 months of the COVID-19 pandemic on the level of anxiety (GAD-7 scale) and depression (PHQ-9 scale) of the Belgian adult population. A longitudinal study was conducted from April 2020 to June 2021, with 1838 respondents participating in 6 online surveys. Linear mixed models were used to model the associations between the predictor variables and the mental health outcomes. Results showed that the prevalence of symptoms of anxiety and depression was higher in times of stricter policy measures. Furthermore, after the initial stress from the outbreak, coping and adjustment were observed in participants, as symptoms of anxiety and depression decreased during times of lower policy restrictions to almost the same level as in pre-COVID times (2018). Though time trends were similar for all population subgroups, higher levels of both anxiety and depression were generally found among women, young people, people with poor social support, extraverts, people having pre-existing psychological problems, and people who were infected/exposed to the COVID-19 virus. Therefore, investment in mental health treatment programs and supports, especially for those risk groups, is crucial.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/12/5/141COVID-19 pandemicmental healthgeneralised anxiety disorderdepressive disorderlongitudinal study |
| spellingShingle | Helena Bruggeman Pierre Smith Finaba Berete Stefaan Demarest Lize Hermans Elise Braekman Rana Charafeddine Sabine Drieskens Karin De Ridder Lydia Gisle Anxiety and Depression in Belgium during the First 15 Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study Behavioral Sciences COVID-19 pandemic mental health generalised anxiety disorder depressive disorder longitudinal study |
| title | Anxiety and Depression in Belgium during the First 15 Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study |
| title_full | Anxiety and Depression in Belgium during the First 15 Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study |
| title_fullStr | Anxiety and Depression in Belgium during the First 15 Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Anxiety and Depression in Belgium during the First 15 Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study |
| title_short | Anxiety and Depression in Belgium during the First 15 Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study |
| title_sort | anxiety and depression in belgium during the first 15 months of the covid 19 pandemic a longitudinal study |
| topic | COVID-19 pandemic mental health generalised anxiety disorder depressive disorder longitudinal study |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/12/5/141 |
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