Silver linings of the COVID-19 lockdown in New Zealand.

Susanna Every-Palmer,Caroline Bell,Matthew Jenkins,Stefano Triberti,Gabrielle Jenkin,Janet Hoek,Charlene Rapsey,Ben Beaglehole,Philip Gendall,James Stanley

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0249678

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant disruption, distress, and loss of life around the world. While negative health, economic, and social consequences are being extensively studied, there has been less research on the resilience and post-traumatic growth that people show in the face of adversity. We investigated New Zealanders' experiences of benefit-finding during the COVID-19 pandemic and analysed qualitative responses to a survey examining mental well-being during the New Zealand lockdown. A total of 1175 of 2010 eligible participants responded to an open-ended question probing 'silver linings' (i.e., positive aspects) they may have experienced during this period. We analysed these qualitative responses using a thematic analysis approach. Two thirds of participants identified silver linings from the lockdown and we developed two overarching themes: Surviving (coping well, meeting basic needs, and maintaining health) and thriving (self-development, reflection, and growth). Assessing positive as well as negative consequences of the pandemic provides more nuanced insights into the impact that New Zealand's response had on mental well-being.

Highlights

On 30 January 2020, the World Health Organization designated the COVID-19 outbreak a ‘public health emergency of international concern’ [1]
In response to the pandemic, many governments enacted various states of lockdown and ordered non-essential workers to stay at home. Both the pandemic and the public health measures aimed at containing it have impacted on mental health and well-being, with increased psychological distress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms reported in New Zealand [2] and internationally [3]
The current study aimed to investigate silver linings reported by New Zealand residents during the COVID-19 lockdown: Identifying such silver linings may inform the support required during prolonged stressful events such as pandemics and associated lockdowns [27]

Summary

Introduction

On 30 January 2020, the World Health Organization designated the COVID-19 outbreak a ‘public health emergency of international concern’ [1]. In response to the pandemic, many governments enacted various states of lockdown and ordered non-essential workers to stay at home. Both the pandemic and the public health measures aimed at containing it have impacted on mental health and well-being, with increased psychological distress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms reported in New Zealand [2] and internationally [3]. Not all psychological outcomes of potentially traumatic events are negative; researchers have documented post-traumatic growth following adversity [4,5]. Post-traumatic growth is the positive psychological change and improved functioning that can occur following adverse events [6]. In contrast to resilience, which can be conceptualised as ‘bouncing back’ from a stressful event, post-traumatic growth has been described as ‘bouncing forward’

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Conclusion