Social and Psychophysiological Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Extensive Literature Review

Abstract

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, now a global health crisis, has surprised health authorities around the world. Recent studies suggest that the measures taken to curb the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak have generated issues throughout the population. Thus, it is necessary to establish and identify the possible risk factors related to the psychosocial and psychophysiological strain during the COVID-19 outbreak. The present extensive literature review assesses the social, psychological, and physiological consequences of COVID-19, reviewing the impact of quarantine measures, isolation, vast human loss, social and financial consequences in the family’s economies, and its impact on the psychological health of the population. We also discussed the effect of psychophysiological factors, considering the impact of physical inactivity and modifications in nutritional habits, at psychological and physiological levels. The present review includes an actualized to date bibliography, articles for which were methodologically analyzed to verify they met the standards of quality and scientific accuracy. Authors understand the pandemic as a multifactorial event for which only a profound and extensive analysis would lead to better compression and efficient intervention in the near future.

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic in Public Mental Health: An Extensive Narrative Review

“…Quarantine has been associated with avoidance behaviors, such as minimizing direct contact between individuals and patients and work absenteeism, which has been associated with a feeling of monotony, disappointment, and irritability [45]. Additionally, confinement may quickly develop into a new mental disorder and exacerbate those already suffered, with the most common psychopathologies being depression, anxiety, panic attacks, somatic symptoms, self-guilt, PTSD, delirium, psychosis, and suicide [78]. Individuals with reduced social skills might relapse on their treatments due to the quarantine, which could reduce their self-sufficiency and self-confidence [79][80][81][82][83].…”

Gender Differences in the COVID-19 Pandemic Risk Perception, Psychology, and Behaviors of Spanish University Students

“…Thus, eating patterns can affect the way people feel [ 15 ]. During the period of confinement, nutritional habits changed dramatically in parallel with the increase in anxiety and stress values among the population [ 16 ]. Previous authors have found that the most frequent changes related to an increased consumption of fruit (27%), eggs (25.4%), legumes (22.5%), vegetables (21%), and fish (20%), and a reduced consumption of processed meats (35.5%) and sugary drinks (32.8%), with clear differences according to age and gender.…”

Performance of Fuzzy Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis of Emergency System in COVID-19 Pandemic. An Extensive Narrative Review

“…The prevention and control of COVID-19 has become a global priority throughout the world. The measures adopted by the different governments in terms of containment and control continuously may affect the mental and general health as well as the living conditions of the citizens [ 1 , 2 ]. A gradual adaptation process scientifically agreed to achieve a return and adaptation to the “new normal” [ 19 ].…”

“…From the end of November 2019 to the present (February 2021), the world is facing one of the most significant pandemics of the last two generations. Every day around the world, thousands of people are dying, and hundreds of thousands are becoming infected with this new coronavirus, characterized by its highly contagious nature [ 1 ]. In humans, it usually causes respiratory infections that can range from a common cold to severe illnesses such as the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) or the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) [ 2 ].…”