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Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health: An international study.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Gloster, AT; Lamnisos, D; Lubenko, J; Presti, G; Squatrito, V; Constantinou, M; Nicolaou, C; Papacostas, S; Aydın, G; Chong, YY; Chien, WT ...
Published in: PLoS One
2020

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic triggered vast governmental lockdowns. The impact of these lockdowns on mental health is inadequately understood. On the one hand such drastic changes in daily routines could be detrimental to mental health. On the other hand, it might not be experienced negatively, especially because the entire population was affected. METHODS: The aim of this study was to determine mental health outcomes during pandemic induced lockdowns and to examine known predictors of mental health outcomes. We therefore surveyed n = 9,565 people from 78 countries and 18 languages. Outcomes assessed were stress, depression, affect, and wellbeing. Predictors included country, sociodemographic factors, lockdown characteristics, social factors, and psychological factors. RESULTS: Results indicated that on average about 10% of the sample was languishing from low levels of mental health and about 50% had only moderate mental health. Importantly, three consistent predictors of mental health emerged: social support, education level, and psychologically flexible (vs. rigid) responding. Poorer outcomes were most strongly predicted by a worsening of finances and not having access to basic supplies. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that on whole, respondents were moderately mentally healthy at the time of a population-wide lockdown. The highest level of mental health difficulties were found in approximately 10% of the population. Findings suggest that public health initiatives should target people without social support and those whose finances worsen as a result of the lockdown. Interventions that promote psychological flexibility may mitigate the impact of the pandemic.

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Published In

PLoS One

DOI

EISSN

1932-6203

Publication Date

2020

Volume

15

Issue

12

Start / End Page

e0244809

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Pandemics
  • Middle Aged
  • Mental Health
  • Male
  • Humans
  • General Science & Technology
  • Female
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Gloster, A. T., Lamnisos, D., Lubenko, J., Presti, G., Squatrito, V., Constantinou, M., … Karekla, M. (2020). Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health: An international study. PLoS One, 15(12), e0244809. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0244809
Gloster, Andrew T., Demetris Lamnisos, Jelena Lubenko, Giovambattista Presti, Valeria Squatrito, Marios Constantinou, Christiana Nicolaou, et al. “Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health: An international study.PLoS One 15, no. 12 (2020): e0244809. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0244809.
Gloster AT, Lamnisos D, Lubenko J, Presti G, Squatrito V, Constantinou M, et al. Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health: An international study. PLoS One. 2020;15(12):e0244809.
Gloster, Andrew T., et al. “Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health: An international study.PLoS One, vol. 15, no. 12, 2020, p. e0244809. Pubmed, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0244809.
Gloster AT, Lamnisos D, Lubenko J, Presti G, Squatrito V, Constantinou M, Nicolaou C, Papacostas S, Aydın G, Chong YY, Chien WT, Cheng HY, Ruiz FJ, Garcia-Martin MB, Obando-Posada DP, Segura-Vargas MA, Vasiliou VS, McHugh L, Höfer S, Baban A, Dias Neto D, Nunes da Silva A, Monestès J-L, Alvarez-Galvez J, Paez-Blarrina M, Montesinos F, Valdivia-Salas S, Ori D, Kleszcz B, Lappalainen R, Ivanović I, Gosar D, Dionne F, Merwin RM, Kassianos AP, Karekla M. Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health: An international study. PLoS One. 2020;15(12):e0244809.

Published In

PLoS One

DOI

EISSN

1932-6203

Publication Date

2020

Volume

15

Issue

12

Start / End Page

e0244809

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Pandemics
  • Middle Aged
  • Mental Health
  • Male
  • Humans
  • General Science & Technology
  • Female
  • Cross-Sectional Studies