Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic and Earthquake on the Mental Health of Adults in Croatia

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, research around the world has found that psychophysical health has been affected: elevated levels of depression, anxiety, stress and trauma due to social isolation, economic instability, and restrictions on previously common daily activities. In the world population, loneliness is continuously increasing, as well as economic stressors. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020., Croatia was hit by a series of devastating earthquakes in which thousands of people were temporarily or permanently homeless. The aim of this study was to examine the role of the coronavirus pandemic and earthquake on mental health, life satisfaction, psychological resilience and social support, and the severity of psychopathological symptoms in adults in Croatia. The study involved 562 participants from all counties in Croatia, who voluntarily entered study that consisted of: Questionnaire for testing general psychopathological difficulties CORE-OM, Short Resilience Scale, Short Mental Health Questionnaire, Social support scale and Life satisfaction measured in one particle. Research has shown a high level of psychopathological symptoms and a low level of mental health. Participants rated social support as high. Lower levels of mental health and lower life satisfaction were associated with a higher degree of pandemic and earthquake impact on life, and a higher degree of pandemic impact on life correlated with severity of psychopathological difficulties. Participants were asked two open-ended questions. One was about the most difficult for them during the pandemic and lockdown, and other one was asking what made the pandemic and lockdown period easier for them. The most significant stressors were social isolation, uncertainty, anxiety, fear of infection, challenges, and limitations of working from home and online classes, loosing job threats and financial insecurity, and excessive exposure to information about the pandemic, and protective factors include family and social support. The level of psychological difficulties confirmed by this research is worrying and indicates the need to develop effective ways to actively deal with the pandemic and all its implications on life.