Mental health across two years of the COVID-19 pandemic: a 5-wave longitudinal study in Germany
The COVID-19 pandemic has been negatively associated with mental health. However, little is known about the temporal dynamics of mental health in the longer term of the pandemic. We aimed to investigate symptom levels and changes of depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress, and loneliness spanning...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1229700/full |
| _version_ | 1827874798238171136 |
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| author | Maxi Weber Sebastian Burchert Marit Sijbrandij Martina Patanè Irene Pinucci Irene Pinucci Babette Renneberg Christine Knaevelsrud Sarah Schumacher Sarah Schumacher |
| author_facet | Maxi Weber Sebastian Burchert Marit Sijbrandij Martina Patanè Irene Pinucci Irene Pinucci Babette Renneberg Christine Knaevelsrud Sarah Schumacher Sarah Schumacher |
| author_sort | Maxi Weber |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The COVID-19 pandemic has been negatively associated with mental health. However, little is known about the temporal dynamics of mental health in the longer term of the pandemic. We aimed to investigate symptom levels and changes of depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress, and loneliness spanning two years of the pandemic; and to examine associated risk factors. This five-wave, longitudinal online study from May 2020 to April 2022 included 636 adults (Mage = 39.5 years, SD = 16.11; 84.1% female) from the German general population who completed the international COVID-19 Mental Health Survey. Symptoms of anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7; GAD-7), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9; PHQ-9), posttraumatic stress (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5; PCL-5), and loneliness (“Do you feel lonely?”) were assessed using mixed-effects models. Associations with anxiety and depressive symptoms were examined with having children, student status, financial worries, contamination fear, and loneliness. PHQ-9, GAD-7, PCL-5, and loneliness scores overall decreased throughout the two-year period of the pandemic but exhibited an increase during two national lockdowns. Controlled for significant associations with female gender and younger age, increased PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores were associated with contamination fear, financial worries, and loneliness. No associations were found with having children and student status. Symptoms of depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress, and loneliness decreased over time but varied along with the dynamics of the pandemic. Longitudinal monitoring of mental health in vulnerable subgroups is required, especially those of younger age, females, and the financially insecure. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T16:57:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a45d4607c6fc41a0a11d46806425cc0c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-0640 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T16:57:00Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-a45d4607c6fc41a0a11d46806425cc0c2023-08-08T05:35:32ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402023-08-011410.3389/fpsyt.2023.12297001229700Mental health across two years of the COVID-19 pandemic: a 5-wave longitudinal study in GermanyMaxi Weber0Sebastian Burchert1Marit Sijbrandij2Martina Patanè3Irene Pinucci4Irene Pinucci5Babette Renneberg6Christine Knaevelsrud7Sarah Schumacher8Sarah Schumacher9Department of Education and Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, GermanyDepartment of Education and Psychology, Clinical Psychological Intervention, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, GermanyDepartment of Clinical, Neuro-, and Developmental Psychology, Amsterdam Public Health Institute and WHO Collaborating Center for Research and Dissemination of Psychological Interventions, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, NetherlandsDepartment of Clinical, Neuro-, and Developmental Psychology, Amsterdam Public Health Institute and WHO Collaborating Center for Research and Dissemination of Psychological Interventions, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, NetherlandsDepartment of Clinical, Neuro-, and Developmental Psychology, Amsterdam Public Health Institute and WHO Collaborating Center for Research and Dissemination of Psychological Interventions, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, NetherlandsDepartment of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, ItalyDepartment of Education and Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, GermanyDepartment of Education and Psychology, Clinical Psychological Intervention, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, GermanyDepartment of Education and Psychology, Clinical Psychological Intervention, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, GermanyClinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute for Mental Health and Behavioral Medicine, HMU Health and Medical University, Potsdam, GermanyThe COVID-19 pandemic has been negatively associated with mental health. However, little is known about the temporal dynamics of mental health in the longer term of the pandemic. We aimed to investigate symptom levels and changes of depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress, and loneliness spanning two years of the pandemic; and to examine associated risk factors. This five-wave, longitudinal online study from May 2020 to April 2022 included 636 adults (Mage = 39.5 years, SD = 16.11; 84.1% female) from the German general population who completed the international COVID-19 Mental Health Survey. Symptoms of anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7; GAD-7), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9; PHQ-9), posttraumatic stress (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5; PCL-5), and loneliness (“Do you feel lonely?”) were assessed using mixed-effects models. Associations with anxiety and depressive symptoms were examined with having children, student status, financial worries, contamination fear, and loneliness. PHQ-9, GAD-7, PCL-5, and loneliness scores overall decreased throughout the two-year period of the pandemic but exhibited an increase during two national lockdowns. Controlled for significant associations with female gender and younger age, increased PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores were associated with contamination fear, financial worries, and loneliness. No associations were found with having children and student status. Symptoms of depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress, and loneliness decreased over time but varied along with the dynamics of the pandemic. Longitudinal monitoring of mental health in vulnerable subgroups is required, especially those of younger age, females, and the financially insecure.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1229700/fullmental healthdepressionanxietypandemiclongitudinal |
| spellingShingle | Maxi Weber Sebastian Burchert Marit Sijbrandij Martina Patanè Irene Pinucci Irene Pinucci Babette Renneberg Christine Knaevelsrud Sarah Schumacher Sarah Schumacher Mental health across two years of the COVID-19 pandemic: a 5-wave longitudinal study in Germany Frontiers in Psychiatry mental health depression anxiety pandemic longitudinal |
| title | Mental health across two years of the COVID-19 pandemic: a 5-wave longitudinal study in Germany |
| title_full | Mental health across two years of the COVID-19 pandemic: a 5-wave longitudinal study in Germany |
| title_fullStr | Mental health across two years of the COVID-19 pandemic: a 5-wave longitudinal study in Germany |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mental health across two years of the COVID-19 pandemic: a 5-wave longitudinal study in Germany |
| title_short | Mental health across two years of the COVID-19 pandemic: a 5-wave longitudinal study in Germany |
| title_sort | mental health across two years of the covid 19 pandemic a 5 wave longitudinal study in germany |
| topic | mental health depression anxiety pandemic longitudinal |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1229700/full |
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