Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on depression, anxiety, loneliness, and satisfaction in the German general population: a longitudinal analysis

Abstract

Purpose Cross-sectional studies found high levels of depression and anxiety symptoms, and loneliness during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Reported increases were lower in longitudinal population-based findings. Studies including positive outcomes are rare. This study analyzed changes in mental health symptoms, loneliness, and satisfaction. Methods Respondents of the German Socio-Economic Panel (N = 6038) were surveyed pre-pandemic (2017/2019) and during the first (June 2020) and second wave (January and February 2021) of the pandemic. Self-report screeners assessed depression and anxiety symptoms, loneliness, life and health satisfaction. Difference scores were analysed using ANCOVAs focusing on time, gender, age groups. Results Depression and anxiety symptoms and health satisfaction increased from pre-pandemic to the first wave, but declined in the second pandemic wave. Loneliness increased and life satisfaction decreased during the first and the second wave of the pandemic. Young adults and women reported more distress and loneliness, even after controlling for pre-pandemic scores, education, and income. All effects remained stable when controlling for self-reported previous diagnosis of depression or region of residence. Conclusion Increases and decreases in mental health symptoms and health satisfaction showed little variation. Of concern are the strong increases of loneliness and decreased life satisfaction being important targets for interventions. Main risk factors are young age and female gender.

Are Attitudes towards COVID-19 Pandemic Related to Subjective Physical and Mental Health?

“…With regard to Germany, the study by Entringer and Kröger [ 20 ] showed that people’s loneliness was still greatly increased in the second lockdown (January/February 2021) compared to the pre-pandemic level, but did not increase further compared to the first lockdown (March to July 2020). Depression and anxiety symptoms decreased slightly again in the second lockdown compared to the first lockdown and were comparable to the level in 2016 (similar results in [ 21 ]). It turns out that in particular women, younger people and people with a direct migration background suffered from the second lockdown: they reported higher loneliness, higher depression and anxiety symptoms, lower affective well-being and lower life satisfaction.…”

Health-related quality of life, continuity of care and patient satisfaction: long-term outcomes of former patients of the Tuebingen Transition Program (TTP) – a retrospective cohort study

“…However, this study did not find significant effects on HR-QoL. Although the associations remain very complex, many studies similarly found that the pandemic had negative influences on physical and psychological wellbeing in the general population [27][28][29].…”

The role of pre-pandemic depression for changes in depression, anxiety, and loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic: Results from a longitudinal probability sample of adults from Germany

“…Interestingly, recent advances in the field of online interventions indicate that mental health problems (e.g., restrictive eating, hopelessness, depression, and anxiety) can even be reduced via an online, self-guided single session intervention targeting behavioral activation or a growth mindset [48]. Moreover, previous studies found that younger individuals are more likely to experience loneliness as well as other mental health issues [49, 50]. Thus, a systematic evaluation of the impact of age in future studies might promote a more precise identification of at-risk persons.…”