ABSTRACT
Background: This study aims to longitudinally assess the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the general Spanish population. It uses four assessment points: two weeks after the start of confinement, one month after, two months after, and one year after the first evaluation. Methods: Evaluations were conducted through an online survey, with a sample of 3,480 people at the first data collection and 1,041, 569, and 550 people at successive evaluation points. Depressive symptoms (PHQ-2), anxiety (GAD-2), post-traumatic stress (PCL-C-2), social support (EMAS), loneliness (UCLA-3), and discrimination (InDI-d) were evaluated. Results: Significant changes were found in the variables depression and anxiety with a greater presence of this kind of symptomatology after one year (p < .01). There were also significant changes in the variable social support, which showed a substantial reduction after one year (p < .001). Similarly, there were significant variations in the variable intersectional discrimination (p < .001), with greater levels of discrimination. The temporal models show no significant differences in terms of post-traumatic symptomatology (p = .12) or loneliness (p = .19). Conclusions: The pandemic had a negative impact on mental health and these effects were further exacerbated one year later. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved) (Spanish) Antecedentes: el objetivo es evaluar el impacto psicologico de la pandemia generada por la COVID-19 en la poblacion general espanola longitudinalmente en cuatro momentos: tras dos semanas del inicio del confinamiento, al mes, a los dos meses y al ano. Metodo: las evaluaciones se realizaron mediante una encuesta online, se siguio a una muestra de 3.480 personas en la primera recogida de datos y de 1.041, 569 y 550 personas en los sucesivos momentos de evaluacion. Se evaluo la presencia de sintomas depresivos (PHQ-2), de ansiedad (GAD-2), de estres postraumatico (PCL-C-2), el apoyo social (EMAS), la soledad (UCLA-3) y la discriminacion (InDI-D). Resultados: se han producido cambios significativos en las variables de depresion y ansiedad con una presencia mayor de dicha sintomatologia al ano (p < .01), asi como en la variable de apoyo social, que muestra una reduccion significativa un ano despues (p < .001), y en la discriminacion interseccional, con una mayor discriminacion (p < .001). Los modelos temporales no muestran diferencias signi ficativas en cuanto a sintomatologia postraumatica (p = .12) ni soledad (p = .19). Conclusiones: la pandemia ha tenido un impacto negativo en la salud mental y estos efectos son todavia peores un ano despues. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)
ABSTRACT
La pandemia de Covid-19 ha tenido un grave impacto en la salud mental de la población, que además ha visto mermado su acceso a atención psicológica por diversas barreras. El objetivo del presente estudio es comparar el estado de salud mental de la población española al inicio del confinamiento (N = 3480) y 12 meses después (N = 550), y describir el uso de servicios de atención psicológica y sus principales barreras de acceso. Los participantes completaron una encuesta online. El 40% de la muestra reveló haber tenido problemas de salud mental desde el inicio de la pandemia, de los cuales el 23.4% señalaron haber recibido algún tipo de atención. La mayor parte refirieron no haber buscado atención porque pudieron manejar los problemas por sí mismos, sus problemas mejoraron solos, o no pudieron costearse tratamiento. La atención de los problemas de salud mental debe ser una prioridad para abordar el impacto psicológico del Covid-19.Alternate : The COVID-19 pandemic has had a serious impact on the mental health of the population, which also has been affected by various barriers to access to psychological care. The aim of the current study is to compare the mental health status of the Spanish population between the onset of confinement (N = 3480) to 12 months later (N = 550), and to describe the use of psychological care services and the main barriers to access. Study participants completed an online survey. Forty percent of the sample reported experiencing a mental health problem since the pandemic’s onset, of which 23.4% reported having received some kind of care. The majority reported not seeking care because they could handle the problems on their own, their problems got better on their own, or they could not afford treatment. The psychological effects of the pandemic have been increasing since its onset, so attention to mental health problems should be a priority.
ABSTRACT
Se analizan las diferencias relacionadas con la edad en el impacto psicológico del confinamiento a consecuencia de la Covid-19 en una muestra española. Se realizó un estudio longitudinal (N= 1.041) mediante una encuesta online con dos mediciones: a las dos y cinco semanas de la declaración del estado de alarma en España. Se evaluaron mediante cuestionarios de detección los síntomas de trastorno de estrés postraumático (TEPT), ansiedad y depresión, bienestar espiritual y soledad percibida. Se calcularon las medias y sus intervalos de confianza (95%) para todas las variables del estudio, para los tres grupos de edad: 18-30, 31-59, 60-80. Para cada variable se calcularon modelos lineales mixtos con pendientes aleatorias (tiempo anidado a los sujetos). El impacto psicológico persiste a lo largo del tiempo, aumentando en algunas de las variables. El grupo de mayor edad muestra menor impacto y mayor bienestar. Presentan menos síntomas de depresión, ansiedad y TEPT y menos soledad. Estos resultados pueden explicarse por la mayor resiliencia de este grupo para recuperarse de situaciones adversas, y el mayor número de estrategias de afrontamiento.Alternate :This research aims to analyze age-related differences in the psychological impact of the Covid-19 confinement situation in a Spanish sample. A longitudinal study (N= 1,041) was conducted through an online survey with two measurements: at two and five weeks after the declaration of the alarm state in Spain. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depressive symptoms, spiritual well-being and perceived loneliness were evaluated by screening tests. Means and their confidence intervals (95%) were calculated for all variables in the study, for the three age groups: 18-30, 31-59, 60-80. Linear mixed models with random slopes (Time nested to Subjects) were calculated for each variable. The results indicate that the psychological impact caused by the pandemic persists over time, and even increases in some of the variables studied. The older age group (60-80 years) shows the least impact and the greatest well-being. They presented less depressive, anxious and PTSD symptoms and less loneliness. These results may be explained by the greater resilience of this group to recover from adverse situations, in addition to having a greater number of coping strategies.
ABSTRACT
The pandemic caused by Covid-19 has been an unprecedented social and health emergency worldwide. This is the first study in the scientific literature reporting the psychological impact of the Covid-19 outbreak in a sample of the Spanish population. A cross-sectional study was conducted through an online survey of 3480 people. The presence of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was evaluated with screening tests from 14 March. Sociodemographic and Covid-19-related data was collected. Additionally, spiritual well-being, loneliness, social support, discrimination and sense of belonging were assessed. Descriptive analyses were carried out and linear regression models compiled. The 18.7% of the sample revealed depressive, 21.6% anxiety and 15.8% PTSD symptoms. Being in the older age group, having economic stability and the belief that adequate information had been provided about the pandemic were negatively related to depression, anxiety and PTSD. However, female gender, previous diagnoses of mental health problems or neurological disorders, having symptoms associated with the virus, or those with a close relative infected were associated with greater symptomatology in all three variables. Predictive models revealed that the greatest protector for symptomatology was spiritual well-being, while loneliness was the strongest predictor of depression, anxiety and PTSD. The impact on our mental health caused by the pandemic and the measures adopted during the first weeks to deal with it are evident. In addition, it is possible to identify the need of greater psychological support in general and in certain particularly vulnerable groups.
Subject(s)
Coronavirus Infections/psychology , Mental Health/trends , Pneumonia, Viral/psychology , Stress, Psychological/epidemiology , Adult , Aged , Anxiety/epidemiology , Anxiety Disorders/epidemiology , Betacoronavirus/pathogenicity , COVID-19 , Cross-Sectional Studies , Depression/epidemiology , Depressive Disorder/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Pandemics/prevention & control , SARS-CoV-2 , Spain/epidemiology , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/epidemiology , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: This study aims to longitudinally assess the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the general Spanish population. It uses four assessment points: two weeks after the start of confinement, one month after, two months after, and one year after the first evaluation. METHODS: Evaluations were conducted through an online survey, with a sample of 3,480 people at the first data collection and 1,041, 569, and 550 people at successive evaluation points. Depressive symptoms (PHQ-2), anxiety (GAD-2), post-traumatic stress (PCL-C-2), social support (EMAS), loneliness (UCLA-3), and discrimination (InDI-d) were evaluated. RESULTS: Significant changes were found in the variables depression and anxiety with a greater presence of this kind of symptomatology after one year (p < .01). There were also significant changes in the variable social support, which showed a substantial reduction after one year (p < .001). Similarly, there were significant variations in the variable intersectional discrimination (p < .001), with greater levels of discrimination. The temporal models show no significant differences in terms of post-traumatic symptomatology (p = .12) or loneliness (p = .19). CONCLUSIONS: The pandemic had a negative impact on mental health and these effects were further exacerbated one year later.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Pandemics , Anxiety , Depression/epidemiology , Humans , Longitudinal Studies , SARS-CoV-2 , Spain/epidemiologyABSTRACT
The COVID-19 lockdown has had a massive psychological impact on mental health in the general population, with increases in anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Spiritual well-being, specifically peace and meaning, has already been identified as one of the main protective factors for these disorders in the COVID-19 context. The aim of the present study is to identify facilitating elements for peace and meaning during the COVID-19 lockdown in Spain. Online surveys were used to obtain data from a sample of 3480 Spanish people. Self-compassion and social support were positively related with peace and meaning, while loneliness and perceived discrimination were negatively related. The model for peace and meaning was statistically significant, explaining 47% of the variance. The significant variables were self-kindness, family support, mindfulness, and sense of belonging having a positive association and loneliness a negative one.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Spain has been one of the countries most affected by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The objective of this study is to describe the characteristics of the patients treated for COVID-19 at Guadarrama Hospital and to identify the associated mortality factors in those admitted in an acute situation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective observational study of COVID-19 patients admitted from 3/15 to 5/15/2020. Sociodemographic, mental, functional, analytical, clinical, radiological and therapeutic variables were collected. Factors associated with mortality were analysed using a bivariate and multivariate study. RESULTS: Two hundred eleven patients were included: 102 (48.3%) in an acute situation and 109 (51.7%) in the convalescent phase, the median (interquartile range) age was 82 (72, 85) years. The most frequent symptoms were fever, cough and respiratory failure. The 89.9% had pneumonia. An acute mortality rate of 26.5% (27/102) was detected and the associated factors were: respiratory failure (P 0.002), Charlson index (ChI)≥3 (P<0.001), CURB≥2 (P 0.011), low SatO2/FiO2 ratio (<0.001), elevated urea (P<0.001) and creatinine (P 0.036), hypoproteinemia (P 0.037) and age (P<0.018). The deceased had a worse functional situation than the survivors (P 0.025). In the multivariate analysis, SatO2/FiO2 ratio (OR: 2.23; 95% CI: 1.07-4.63; P 0.031) and ChI≥3 (OR: 4.25; 95% CI: 1.06-17.04; P 0.041) were independent factors of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 patients treated were mostly severe cases. The variables associated with mortality were age, respiratory failure, comorbidity, kidney failure, and malnutrition. Respiratory failure and comorbidity outweigh age as independent risk factors for mortality.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Pandemics , Comorbidity , Hospitals , Humans , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
In this study we intend to understand the impact of the COVID-19 crisis and the subsequent stay-at-home orders, on the Spanish population's sense of belonging at three moments in time: at the beginning of the lockdown, after one month of lockdown and with the return to the "new normality". A cross-sectional study was conducted through an online survey (N0 = 3480; N1 = 1041; N2 = 569). The sense of belonging was evaluated by means of four Likert-type items. These questions included membership in different groups: work/studies, friends, family and neighborhood or community. Sociodemographic and COVID-19-related data were collected. Additionally, mental health, spiritual well-being, loneliness, social support and discrimination were assessed. Descriptive analyses were carried out and linear regression models compiled. The sense of belonging increased significantly during confinement, dropping dramatically with the start of the return to the "new normality" process. The only variable that showed interaction with time and sense of belonging was discrimination. Work condition (not working providing the lowest sense of belonging scores), social support from friends and loneliness were the main predictors of the sense of belonging. The impact caused by the pandemic and the actions adopted during the first weeks regarding the sense of belonging is evident. It has been a key variable in dealing with COVID-19. Actions are now needed to increase our sense of belonging to face the post-epidemic crisis and avoid a greater impact in other areas.
ABSTRACT
COVID-19 disease control efforts and consequences are likely to be complicated by the impact of fear and stigmatization of the novel coronavirus. These complications may also worsen due to the potential compounding of COVID-19 related stigma with stigmatization associated with previously diagnosed conditions. This exploratory study analyzes the experiences of the stigma associated with COVID-19 lockdown in people with different previous diagnoses 2 and 5 weeks after the beginning of the state of emergency in Spain. Gender and age were controlled as covariables and 1,052 people participated in the study. The diagnosis groups were: Psychiatry and mental health (n = 71), Cardiovascular disease (n = 42), Neurological disease (n = 23), Lung disease (n = 53), and No diagnosis (n = 863). The instruments used to measure the stigma were the Intersectional Day-to-Day Discrimination Index and two items of the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness scale. Analysis of covariance of repeated measures and analysis of variance, including Scheffe's post hoc test, were performed. We found significant differences in stigma among the first and second evaluation. Regarding the previous diagnosis, no differences were found at Time 1, but significant differences were found at Time 2, with those having a previous psychiatric or mental health diagnosis reporting higher levels of perceived discrimination and internalized stigmatization. Our results suggest that people with previous stigmatizing conditions might be more vulnerable to experiencing stigma in a confinement situation. In order to reduce the burden of the COVID-19 stigma, health interventions should also consider the resulting intersection of effects on internalized stigma and perceived discrimination. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Mental Disorders/psychology , Quarantine , Social Discrimination/psychology , Social Stigma , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Spain , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Stigma and discrimination have been associated with different diseases and pandemics, with negative consequences for the people who suffered them and for their communities. Currently, COVID-19 has become a new source of stigmatization. AIMS: The aim of the present study is to analyze longitudinally the evolution of intersectional perceived discrimination and internalized stigma among the general population of Spain, at three points in time throughout the confinement. METHOD: Participants completed an online survey. RESULTS: Results show an increase in both variables from the first to the second evaluation, and a slight decrease from the second to the third evaluation. Moreover, these changes are explained by depression, anxiety and family support. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate the factors that need to be considered to reduce the perception of discrimination and the internalization of stigma, and their detrimental consequences, during an especially stressful event such as the current pandemic outbreak.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Communicable Disease Control , Depression/epidemiology , Humans , Perceived Discrimination , SARS-CoV-2 , Social Stigma , SpainABSTRACT
Background: Covid-19 remains a pandemic that most countries in the world are still dealing with. This is study aims to report the psychological impact of Covid-19 over time on the Spanish population. Methods: A longitudinal study (N = 1041) was carried out with two measurements: after 2 and 5 weeks starting from the declaration of the state of emergency in Spain. The presence of depressive symptoms, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disease (PTSD) was evaluated by means of screening tests. Sociodemographic data, variables about Covid-19, loneliness, spiritual well-being, social support, discrimination, and a sense of belonging were collected. Results: The data showed how depressive symptomatology increased significantly over time, while anxiety and PTSD did not show statistically significant changes. Spiritual well-being and loneliness were the main predictors of psychological impact. A younger age was a significant predictor of depression and anxiety, while female gender was associated with anxiety and PTSD. Conclusions: The impact of the pandemic is sustained over time, even increasing in depression, and vulnerable groups that need greater psychological health support could be identified.