A longitudinal study on the COVID-19 pandemic and its divergent effects on social participation and mental health across different study groups with and without mental disorders

Abstract

Purpose With the rapid spread of COVID-19 and the restrictions imposed in many parts of the world, there is growing concern about its impact on mental health. This longitudinal study investigated the social participation, social inclusion and psychological well-being in adults with and without mental disorders before the beginning of the pandemic, as well as during and after strict lockdown restrictions in Germany. Methods The sample (n = 106) consisted of three groups: participants with a chronic mental disorder, with an acute mental disorder, and without a mental disorder at the time of the initial survey. Parameters of interest were assessed using the Measure of Participation and Social Inclusion for Use in People with a Chronic Mental Disorder (F-INK), the Index for the Assessment of Health Impairments (IMET) and the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI-18). Results The perceived impairments in social participation and the associated changes in behaviour varied depending on the presence of a mental disorder at the time of the initial survey and were largely temporary, i.e. limited to the period of strict lockdown restrictions. We found no further detrimental effects on mental health 4 weeks after lockdown or later, when a policy of physical distancing was in place. Conclusion Overall, our findings suggest a general resilience to the official restrictions and measures as well as the pandemic itself. However, further efforts are needed to improve the situation of people with chronic mental disorders and their limited opportunities for social participation.

Living in Uncertain Times: Pre-Pandemic Vulnerabilities as Predictors of Longitudinal Changes in Psychological Distress Across the First Two Waves of the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Contrary to public health concerns initially raised about psychological distress increasing during the COVID-19 pandemic (Zhang et al, 2020) and findings from some studies showing heightened psychological distress during the pandemic's initial wave (Devaraj & Patel, 2020;Shechter et al, 2020;Xiong et al, 2020), results from our current study indicated that mental health problems remained stable from pre-pandemic baseline in December 2019/January 2020 and across the first two COVID-19 pandemic waves. Though surprising, these findings are consistent with stable patterns of psychological distress identified in some other studies conducted during the first pandemic wave (Mergel & Schützwohl, 2021;Qiu et al, 2020;Wang et al, 2020;Zhou et al, 2020). Our findings may also be reflective of similar patterns identified in other longitudinal studies (e.g.…”

“…Our findings may also be reflective of similar patterns identified in other longitudinal studies (e.g. Daly & Robinson, 2021;Fancourt et al, 2021;Mergel & Schützwohl, 2021;Pierce et al, 2021;Varga et al, 2021), in which heightened psychological distress during the very earliest stages of the pandemic was followed by a gradual decrease in problems as the first pandemic lockdown progressed. Distress then gradually plateaued at a lower rate as lockdown restrictions eased.…”

“…Most of these studies, however, used rather rough measures of pre-pandemic mental health, often asking respondents if they had ever suffered from or been diagnosed with a psychological disorder, or measuring experiences of non-specific psychological distress (Daly et al, 2020;Fancourt et al, 2021;Pierce et al, 2020Pierce et al, , 2021. Only one small study in Germany had pre-pandemic data of more specific mental health symptoms, using a German-translated version of the Brief Symptom Inventory (Spitzer et al, 2011) to assess a range of depression, anxiety, and somatization symptoms (Mergel & Schützwohl, 2021). However, their study, as well as other longitudinal studies, assessed pre-pandemic mental health functioning across a wide swath of time, making it difficult to determine how the pandemic may have impacted psychological distress among those who were experiencing specific mental health symptoms just prior to the pandemic's onset.…”

“…Less is known about people's mental well-being during later stages of the pandemic, particularly among those with greater vulnerabilities to experiencing mental health problems. Preliminary longitudinal research suggests that, at least for some, psychological distress experienced early in the pandemic was transient in response to the sudden lockdowns, lifestyle disruptions, and uncertainty; as the pandemic progresses, this distress may gradually subside as these individuals adjust to the new normal (Daly & Robinson, 2021;Daly et al, 2020;Fancourt et al, 2021;Mergel & Schützwohl, 2021;Pierce et al, 2020Pierce et al, , 2021. Vaccination rollouts may further contribute to this resiliency, as hope of the pandemic's end and a return to pre-pandemic living emerges.…”

“…two waves show a pattern of gradual adaptation over time, particularly as lockdown restrictions eased (Daly & Robinson, 2021;Daly et al, 2020;Fancourt et al, 2021;Mergel & Schützwohl, 2021;Pierce et al, 2020Pierce et al, , 2021. Indeed, in one small longitudinal study, researchers discovered that mental health problems remained stable or even declined across the first two pandemic waves (Mergel & Schützwohl, 2021).…”