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Multifaceted Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Lockdown on Physical and Mental Health: Insights from a Cross-Sectional Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 August 2024

V. Dimitriou ,
C. Kalogirou ,
A. Potamianou ,
M. Bakola ,
P. Gourzis ,
G. Charalampous  and
E. Jelastopulu
V. Dimitriou
Affiliation:
1Postgraduate Program Health Management, Frederick University, Nicosia, Cyprus
C. Kalogirou
Affiliation:
2Medical School, Department of Public Health
A. Potamianou*
Affiliation:
2Medical School, Department of Public Health
M. Bakola
Affiliation:
2Medical School, Department of Public Health
P. Gourzis
Affiliation:
3Medical School, Department of Psychiatry, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
G. Charalampous
Affiliation:
2Medical School, Department of Public Health
E. Jelastopulu
Affiliation:
2Medical School, Department of Public Health
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

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Introduction

The global COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns have significantly impacted global wellbeing and highlighted the close link between mental and physical health. Social isolation and quarantine have proven to be major stressors, leading to emotional distress and unpredictable psychological consequences.

Objectives

We explored the pandemic’s impact on individuals’ physical and mental health and social relationships.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study using a questionnaire which included among other socio-democratic questions, the Fear of COVID-19 Scale, the World Health Organization Quality-of-Life Scale (WHOQOL-BREF) and the Toronto Empathy Questionnaire (TEQ).

Results

A total of 511 adults (55.1% males) participated in this study. Participants reported increased social media use (more than 4-5 times/week) during the lockdown, which was associated with increased fear of COVID-19 and negative effects on mental and physical health, and social relationships (p<0.01). Conversely, non-work-related outings (once a week) were associated with lower fear (p<0.01) and better well-being (p<0.05). Higher fear, particularly for loved ones, was associated with negative effects. The level of physical health was moderate to high, with varying levels of satisfaction in different areas. Empathy correlated with increased fear (p<0.01) and reduced mobility (p<0.05).

Conclusions

The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns significantly affected physical and mental health, highlighting the importance of tailoring interventions for vulnerable populations and promoting adaptive coping strategies in times of crisis.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared

Type
Abstract
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 67 , Special Issue S1: Abstracts of the 32nd European Congress of Psychiatry , April 2024 , pp. S516
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of European Psychiatric Association
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