Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic might affect many aspects of the community and a range of psychiatric risk factors due to life changes, including people’s behaviors and perceptions. In this study, we aim to identify specific life changes that correlate with psychological distress within the social context of the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan. In July 2020, workers (company employees and civil servants) in Japan were recruited from local institutions that had not had any confirmed COVID-19 cases as well as neighborhoods that had only a few cases. Participants completed a COVID-19 mental health survey (N = 609; 66.9% male). Psychological distress was identified based on Kessler-6 scores (≥13). Life changes were assessed by an open-ended question about life changes in participants and their family, workplace, and community due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A convergent mixed-method approach was used to compare the context of perceived life changes in participants with psychological distress and those without. As a result, 8.9% of participants had psychological distress, and sex and age categories were different between those with psychological distress and those without. Among the participants who responded to the open-ended question, the biggest life change was “staying at home,” and the next biggest life changes were “event cancellations” and “increased workload” in participants with psychological distress, and “no changes” and “mask-wearing” in those without psychological distress, respectively. Regarding emotional/perceptual changes, “stress,” “fear,” and “anger” were more frequently reported by participants with psychological distress than those without (P <0.001). By integrating these findings, we identified themes focusing on vulnerable characteristics related to psychological distress. This study may provide a source in society for mediating psychological distress during a pandemic.
Highlights
A pandemic prompts public health measures for individuals and changes in societal behaviors to prevent microbiome transmission [1]
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a high prevalence of psychological problems [3, 4] and the public has exhibited anxiety-related behaviors based on social rejection as well as the stigmatization of people affected by the virus [5, 6]
Other potential risk factors for Psychological distress (PD) during the COVID-19 pandemic have been identified, including economic hardship, presence of comorbidities, and quarantine [10, 11], we do not yet fully understand the background dynamics of human society related to the pandemic
Summary
A pandemic prompts public health measures for individuals and changes in societal behaviors to prevent microbiome transmission [1]. People realize the importance of hygiene and health behaviors, society is noted by fear and confusion. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) rapidly spread worldwide [2], causing changes in people’s lives and behaviors, such as quarantine, staying at home, wearing masks, and physical distancing. These large-scale life changes might alter society’s psychological burden. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a high prevalence of psychological problems [3, 4] and the public has exhibited anxiety-related behaviors based on social rejection as well as the stigmatization of people affected by the virus [5, 6]. Other potential risk factors for PD during the COVID-19 pandemic have been identified, including economic hardship, presence of comorbidities, and quarantine [10, 11], we do not yet fully understand the background dynamics of human society related to the pandemic
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