Mental Health in Settings with COVID-19 Positive Cases in the Spanish Population: The Protective Role of the Capacity to Adapt to Change.

María Del Mar Molero Jurado,María Del Mar Simón Márquez,José Jesús Gázquez Linares,Nieves Fátima Oropesa Ruiz,Ana Belén Barragán Martín,María Del Carmen Pérez-Fuentes,África Martos Martínez,Iván Herrera-Peco

doi:10.3390/jcm11061497

María Del Mar Molero Jurado, María Del Mar Simón Márquez + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11061497

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Abstract

Background: The capacity to adapt to change in complex, highly demanding situations, such as those derived from the COVID-19 pandemic, is essential in maintaining one’s mental health. This study analyzed the mental health of the Spanish population in settings with COVID-19 positive cases and the protective role of adaptation to change. Methods: The sample consisted of 1160 adult Spaniards aged 18 to 82 with a mean age of 38.29 (SD = 13.71). Data were collected by a CAWI (Computer Aided Web Interviewing) survey which included the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), Adaptation to Change Questionnaire (ADAPTA-10), and an ad hoc questionnaire related to COVID-19 (perceived economic impact, COVID-19 positive diagnosis or not, and whether there was a positive case close to them). Results: The data revealed that the perceived economic impact showed a negative association between the emotional factor and the total score in adaptation to change. Lastly, the emotional factor in adaptation to change operated as a protector from the effect that a setting with COVID-19 positive cases exerts on mental health. Conclusions: Coping with COVID-19 requires strengthening the capacity for adaptation to changes generated in the setting, especially emotional, as it could contribute to improving the mental health of individuals, especially in those settings where they find and know a COVID-19 positive case.

Highlights

In view of the worldwide situation generated by the COVID-19 pandemic [1], it is essential to know how individuals adapt to the many changes caused by the virus in their everyday affairs and the effects of this capacity for adaptation on public mental health.Capacity for adapting refers to functional modification of the individual’s psychological and behavioral responses to change
The results of this study advance knowledge of the capacity for adaptation to changes generated by COVID-19 in the Spanish population
The presence of close positive cases has an impact on an increase in psychological symptoms through the emotional response, which occurs while adapting emotionally to new situations

Summary

Introduction

Capacity for adapting refers to functional modification of the individual’s psychological and behavioral responses to change These changes must have beneficial results enabling them to successfully cope with events and daily demands [2]. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected individual physical health due to its severe symptoms [5,6] It has affected the mental dimension of health, since the disease itself, actions for its control, and access to information have modified usual individual and social behavior [7–10]. These changes in how one relates to the setting may cause individuals to become vulnerable [11], contributing to the appearance of psychological symptoms such as anxiety, irritability, fury, frustration, feelings of loneliness, fear, and intolerance to uncertainty [9,12–19].

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Discussion

Conclusion