Emotional Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown Among the Spanish Population
BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in some populations being confined to their homes as part of infection control measures. This situation can be hard to cope with due to separation from loved ones, prohibition of regular activities, fear of infection, loss of freedom, and so on. These neg...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2020-12-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.616978/full |
| _version_ | 1818438387821969408 |
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| author | Elena Gismero-González Laura Bermejo-Toro Virginia Cagigal Angustias Roldán María Jesús Martínez-Beltrán Lucía Halty |
| author_facet | Elena Gismero-González Laura Bermejo-Toro Virginia Cagigal Angustias Roldán María Jesús Martínez-Beltrán Lucía Halty |
| author_sort | Elena Gismero-González |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in some populations being confined to their homes as part of infection control measures. This situation can be hard to cope with due to separation from loved ones, prohibition of regular activities, fear of infection, loss of freedom, and so on. These negative impacts cause considerable psychological stress, and all the more so when the situation continues for an extended period, as was the case in Spain. The present study was aimed at investigating the effects of COVID-19 quarantine on the emotional functioning of confined Spanish individuals after 8 weeks of lockdown by means of a cross-sectional study. The possible associations between changes in emotional functioning and demographic variables (age and sex), health habits (physical exercise, following a routine, and smoking), social support, and resilience were also analyzed.MethodsA total of 906 Spanish adults completed an online survey to gather information about their prevailing mood and affects (before and after 8 weeks of lockdown), using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) (Watson et al., 1988), and other variables related to their habits and protective factors.FindingsAs expected, the data indicated an increase in negative affects (e.g., “upset,” “afraid,” “distressed”) and a decrease in positive affects after 8 weeks under lockdown, as well as a general decline in overall mood. The largest increases in negative affects were observed in young adults (18–35 years) and women. We did not find any differences between people who were or were not diagnosed with COVID-19. Adhering to a routine, maintaining the same weight, and moderate physical exercise were associated with fewer negative affects, which indicates they are important protective factors, as are perceived social support and resilience.ConclusionIn order to mitigate the psychological impact of confinement, it is important to develop psychoeducational measures that encourage subjects to adhere to health habits and promote social support and resilience as protective factors. A special preventive focus should be placed on the most vulnerable population groups, namely women and young adults. For a public health lockdown to succeed, its negative consequences must be minimized insofar as possible through adequate knowledge of the risk factors and protective factors, and by means of prevention-oriented organization. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T17:39:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5e6c5f7bcb6d4fb8a914022bba418c6d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T17:39:46Z |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-5e6c5f7bcb6d4fb8a914022bba418c6d2022-12-21T22:52:53ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782020-12-011110.3389/fpsyg.2020.616978616978Emotional Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown Among the Spanish PopulationElena Gismero-González0Laura Bermejo-Toro1Virginia Cagigal2Angustias Roldán3María Jesús Martínez-Beltrán4Lucía Halty5Department of Psychology and Clinical Unit of Psychology (UNINPSI), Comillas Pontifical University, Madrid, SpainDepartment of Psychology and Clinical Unit of Psychology (UNINPSI), Comillas Pontifical University, Madrid, SpainDepartment of Psychology and Clinical Unit of Psychology (UNINPSI), Comillas Pontifical University, Madrid, SpainDepartment of Psychology, Comillas Pontifical University, Madrid, SpainSan Juan de Dios School of Nursing and Physical Therapy, Comillas Pontifical University, Madrid, SpainDepartment of Psychology, Comillas Pontifical University, Madrid, SpainBackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in some populations being confined to their homes as part of infection control measures. This situation can be hard to cope with due to separation from loved ones, prohibition of regular activities, fear of infection, loss of freedom, and so on. These negative impacts cause considerable psychological stress, and all the more so when the situation continues for an extended period, as was the case in Spain. The present study was aimed at investigating the effects of COVID-19 quarantine on the emotional functioning of confined Spanish individuals after 8 weeks of lockdown by means of a cross-sectional study. The possible associations between changes in emotional functioning and demographic variables (age and sex), health habits (physical exercise, following a routine, and smoking), social support, and resilience were also analyzed.MethodsA total of 906 Spanish adults completed an online survey to gather information about their prevailing mood and affects (before and after 8 weeks of lockdown), using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) (Watson et al., 1988), and other variables related to their habits and protective factors.FindingsAs expected, the data indicated an increase in negative affects (e.g., “upset,” “afraid,” “distressed”) and a decrease in positive affects after 8 weeks under lockdown, as well as a general decline in overall mood. The largest increases in negative affects were observed in young adults (18–35 years) and women. We did not find any differences between people who were or were not diagnosed with COVID-19. Adhering to a routine, maintaining the same weight, and moderate physical exercise were associated with fewer negative affects, which indicates they are important protective factors, as are perceived social support and resilience.ConclusionIn order to mitigate the psychological impact of confinement, it is important to develop psychoeducational measures that encourage subjects to adhere to health habits and promote social support and resilience as protective factors. A special preventive focus should be placed on the most vulnerable population groups, namely women and young adults. For a public health lockdown to succeed, its negative consequences must be minimized insofar as possible through adequate knowledge of the risk factors and protective factors, and by means of prevention-oriented organization.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.616978/fullCOVID-19mass quarantinepositive affect (PA)negative affect (NA)health habitsperceived social support |
| spellingShingle | Elena Gismero-González Laura Bermejo-Toro Virginia Cagigal Angustias Roldán María Jesús Martínez-Beltrán Lucía Halty Emotional Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown Among the Spanish Population Frontiers in Psychology COVID-19 mass quarantine positive affect (PA) negative affect (NA) health habits perceived social support |
| title | Emotional Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown Among the Spanish Population |
| title_full | Emotional Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown Among the Spanish Population |
| title_fullStr | Emotional Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown Among the Spanish Population |
| title_full_unstemmed | Emotional Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown Among the Spanish Population |
| title_short | Emotional Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown Among the Spanish Population |
| title_sort | emotional impact of covid 19 lockdown among the spanish population |
| topic | COVID-19 mass quarantine positive affect (PA) negative affect (NA) health habits perceived social support |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.616978/full |
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