Mental health of the adult population in Germany during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rapid Review

Mauz, Elvira; Eicher, Sophie; Peitz, Diana; Junker, Stephan; Hölling, Heike; Thom, Julia

doi:10.25646/9537

Cited by 14 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 85 publications

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“…At the same time, we find a decline in the MCS and no change in life satisfaction for individuals without pre-existing mental health risks. While these results contrast our expectations and some previous literature, 8 80 81 a systematic review and meta-analysis present comparable results revealing no evidence of a change in symptoms at the beginning of the pandemic among those with pre-existing mental health conditions, while overall increases in symptoms were found compared with prepandemic levels. 11 The authors of this meta-analysis argue that this may be due to the positive impacts of lifestyle changes linked to transmission mitigation measures for this group as well as to regression to the mean effects, whereby recovery processes result in improvements in mental health outcomes over time in those with pre-existing conditions.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

“…Starting with the vulnerability factor of gender and children, MCS deteriorated in all considered subgroups, except for fathers, whereas none of these groups experienced life satisfaction deterioration. Our results, therefore, only partly conform to previous studies consistently reporting pandemic-related worsened mental health for women 8 13 and mothers. 31 However, our findings contradict our expectations to find declines for parents (compared with non-parents).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 71%

“…Owing to the pandemic and containment measures, declines in mental health and well-being in 2020 compared with previous years were widely expected. 6 7 The early stages of the pandemic have been examined extensively regarding potential mental health declines in Germany 8 and internationally. [9][10][11][12] However, findings are mixed, and clear conclusions cannot be easily drawn.…”

Section: Strengths and Limitations Of This Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Indeed, existing research provides some evidence for associations between these vulnerability factors and poorer mental health in the first years of the pandemic in Germany or elsewhere: younger adults, 8 26–28 older adults, 29 parents, 27 30 mothers, 31 those with lower education levels, 32 33 lower household income 33 or those receiving welfare assistance, 34 immigrants and refugees, 25 35 36 individuals living alone, 37 those with pre-existing mental 8 38 and physical health conditions 11 have been found to show an elevated risk of mental health deterioration. Fewer studies also examined life satisfaction, identifying corresponding declines in the overall German population 39 40 and particularly for mothers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mental health and well-being in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic among different population subgroups: evidence from representative longitudinal data in Germany

et al. 2023

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ObjectivesTo examine potential deteriorations in mental health and well-being in the first COVID-19 pandemic year compared with the previous decade focusing on the following vulnerable subgroups in Germany: women with minor children in the household, those living without a partner, younger and older adults, those in a precarious labour market situation, immigrants and refugees, and those with pre-existing physical or mental health risks.DesignAnalyses of secondary longitudinal survey data using cluster-robust pooled ordinary least squares models.ParticipantsMore than 20 000 individuals (aged 16+ years) in Germany.Primary and secondary outcome measuresMental Component Summary Scale (MCS) of the 12-item Short-Form Health Survey measuring mental health-related quality of life, single item on life satisfaction (LS).ResultsWe find a decline in the average MCS in the 2020 survey that is not particularly striking in the overall time course, still resulting in a mean score below those of all preceding waves since 2010. We find no change in LS from 2019 to 2020 against the background of a general upward trend. Regarding vulnerability factors, only the results on age and parenthood are partially in line with our expectations. In 2020, LS declined among the youngest adults; MCS declined among mothers (and women and men without children) but not fathers. Unlike respective comparison groups, refugees, those unemployed before the pandemic and those with pre-existing mental health risks experienced no MCS declines in 2020, whereas persons living without a partner, the eldest, and those with pre-existing health risks exhibited continued increases in LS.ConclusionsThere is no evidence for substantial breakdowns in mental health or subjective well-being in the first pandemic year in the German population or its subgroups, particularly when considering developments of the previous decade. Since the majority of hypothesised vulnerable groups to pandemic stressors showed more stable MCS and LS, our results warrant further study.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 71%

Section: Strengths and Limitations Of This Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mental health and well-being in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic among different population subgroups: evidence from representative longitudinal data in Germany

et al. 2023

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“…Studies indicate that up to 40% of the general population experienced high levels of anxiety or distress associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and that there may be psychological and emotional trauma that would last a lifetime (Hossain et al, 2020 ; Jung et al, 2020 ; Vindegaard and Benros, 2020 ; Jin et al, 2021 ; Mauz et al, 2021 ; Bonati et al, 2022 ). Depression and anxiety disorders rank among the top debilitating medical conditions and have one of the highest socioeconomic impacts (GBD 2019 Diseases and Injuries Collaborators, 2020 ; GBD 2019 Mental Disorders Collaborators, 2022 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The COVID-19 pandemic and mental health in Kazakhstan

Mergenova,

Rosenthal,

Myrkassymova

et al. 2023

Camb. prisms Glob. ment. health

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The COVID-19 pandemic had significant impacts on mental health. We examined factors associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic in Kazakhstan. We surveyed 991 adults in Kazakhstan in July 2021 using multistage stratified sampling. Depression and anxiety were measured with the Patient Health Questionnaire-4. We conducted logistic regression to assess associations between depression and anxiety and sociobehavioral factors. Overall, 12.01% reported depressive symptoms and 8.38% anxiety. Higher likelihood of depression was associated with being female (AOR: 1.64; 95% CI [1.05, 2.55]), having experience with COVID-19 in the social environment (AOR: 1.85; 95% CI [1.1-3.14]), experiencing food insecurity (AOR: 1.80; 95% CI [1.11-2.89]), increased family conflict (AOR: 2.43; 95% ) and impaired healthcare access (AOR: 2.41; 95% ). Higher likelihood of anxiety was associated with being female (AOR: 3.43; 95% CI [1.91-6.15]), increased family conflict (AOR: 2.22; 95% ) and impaired healthcare access (AOR: 2.63; 95% CI [1.36-5.12]). Multiple factors were associated with mental health in Kazakhstan during the COVID-19 pandemic. Further research is needed to determine the extent to which these factors and their associated mental health outcomes may persist. Impact statementThe COVID-19 pandemic had significant impacts on mental health. Our results suggest that in Kazakhstan, women experienced higher rates of depression and anxiety than men. Rurality, limited access to healthcare services, increased family conflicts, and knowing someone who died of COVID-19 were also associated with an increased likelihood of mental health symptoms. In addition, economic vulnerability, such as food insecurity, was associated with increased depression. By identifying factors associated with greater risk, policies can be developed that either mitigate these factors (e.g., limited access to health care) or their relationship to mental health (e.g., being female or living in a rural area) so as to support the mental health of the general population of Kazakhstan.

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Mental health surveillance at the Robert Koch Institute – strategies for monitoring the mental health of the population

Thom

Walther

Eicher

et al. 2023

Bundesgesundheitsbl

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ZusammenfassungDie fortlaufende und systematische Beobachtung der Bevölkerungsgesundheit ist grundlegend für eine effektive Public-Health-Praxis. Angesichts der wachsenden Bedeutung psychischer Gesundheit für die Bevölkerungsgesundheit wird am Robert Koch-Institut eine Mental Health Surveillance für Deutschland aufgebaut. Deren Ziel ist es, kontinuierlich verlässliche Einschätzungen zur psychischen Gesundheit der Bevölkerung und ihrer Entwicklung zur Verfügung zu stellen.Aktuell werden 3 Surveillance-Strategien verfolgt: 1) Regelmäßige Bestandsaufnahmen sollen den psychischen Gesundheitszustand der Bevölkerung über eine Vielfalt an Indikatoren und Datengrundlagen umfassend beschreiben und langfristige Veränderungen aufzeigen. Sie knüpfen an bereits vorliegende Arbeiten aus Epidemiologie und Versorgungsforschung an. 2) Die hochfrequente Beobachtung einer Auswahl an Indikatoren dient der frühen Erkennung von Trends. 3) Das kontinuierliche Literaturreview erfasst monatlich die aktuelle Evidenzlage zur Entwicklung der psychischen Gesundheit in der COVID-19-Pandemie. Die beiden letzten Strategien entstanden in Reaktion auf veränderte Informationsbedarfe während der Pandemie.In diesem Beitrag werden die 3 Strategien, ihre Funktionen, Grenzen und Entwicklungspotenziale beschrieben und diskutiert. Vermittelt über verschiedene Formate der Berichterstattung können sie Handlungs- und Forschungsbedarfe im Bereich Public Mental Health aufzeigen. Bei weiterem Aufbau und Betrieb hat Mental Health Surveillance insgesamt das Potenzial, die Erreichung von Zielsetzungen im Bereich Public Mental Health zu unterstützen und auf verschiedenen Ebenen zur Verbesserung der gesundheitlichen Lage beizutragen.

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Mental health of the adult population in Germany during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rapid Review

Cited by 14 publications

References 85 publications

Mental health and well-being in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic among different population subgroups: evidence from representative longitudinal data in Germany

Mental health and well-being in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic among different population subgroups: evidence from representative longitudinal data in Germany

The COVID-19 pandemic and mental health in Kazakhstan

Mental health surveillance at the Robert Koch Institute – strategies for monitoring the mental health of the population

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