Mental Health During the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Review and Recommendations for Moving Forward

Abstract

COVID-19 has infected millions of people and upended the lives of most humans on the planet. Researchers from across the psychological sciences have sought to document and investigate the impact of COVID-19 in myriad ways, causing an explosion of research that is broad in scope, varied in methods, and challenging to consolidate. Because policy and practice aimed at helping people live healthier and happier lives requires insight from robust patterns of evidence, this paper provides a rapid and thorough summary of high-quality studies published in 2020 addressing two overarching questions. First, what are the mental health consequences of living through the COVID-19 pandemic? Second, what are the neurological sequelae of contracting COVID-19? Our review of the evidence indicates that some facets of mental health suffered greatly during the early months of the pandemic (e.g., anxiety and depression increased), while other facets (life satisfaction) and correlates (social connection, loneliness) notably displayed resilience. In addition, early neurological data indicate several consequences of contracting COVID-19, both during infection and after recovery. In response to these insights, we present seven recommendations (1 urgent, 2 short-term, 4 ongoing) to support mental health and well-being during the pandemic and beyond.

Acute and longer-term psychological distress associated with testing positive for COVID-19: longitudinal evidence from a population-based study of US adults

“…The increase and then partial recovery in psychological distress after 2 weeks did not vary significantly based on sociodemographic characteristics, participant resilience levels, or the presence/absence of pre-existing health conditions. Findings are consistent with proposals that those who contract COVID-19 may be at a greater risk of increased mental health symptoms compared to others living through the pandemic but not directly affected (Aknin et al, 2021). However, consistent with studies on mental health in the general population during the pandemic (Prati & Mancini, 2021;Robinson et al, 2021;, the present findings indicate that increases in distress attributable to infection are likely to be relatively transient and short-lived.…”

Child and caregiver mental health during 12 months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia: findings from national repeated cross-sectional surveys

“…(5) Notably, this increase in psychological distress is not reflected in general population data. (2,4,5) In our study, substantially more caregivers reported clinically significant levels of mental health symptoms (K6) (average 18%) throughout the pandemic than representative Australian adult data collected pre-pandemic (8% in 2017) or during the first national lockdown (11%). ( 5)…”

Social microclimates and well-being

“…As has been documented by other groups 28 , though there have been few overall changes in well-being, there are substantial individual differences-with some individuals suffering a much higher mental health burden. Next, we took advantage of these individual differences to connect pre-pandemic social ties (and changes in these relationships) to changes in well-being and resilience during the pandemic.…”

“…Six months later, the COVID-19 pandemic shut down their campus. The COVID-19 pandemic, and its associated lockdowns and "social distancing" ordinances, produced global declines in mental health 28 .…”