Abstract
BackgroundThe first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 increased mental health problems globally. However, little is known about mental health problems during a low-incidence period of the pandemic without strict public health measures.ObjectiveWe aim to investigate whether COVID-19–related risk factors for mental health problems persist beyond lockdown measures. We targeted a vulnerable population that is at risk of developing low mental health and assessed their daily dynamics of mood and emotion regulation after a strict lockdown.MethodsDuring a postlockdown period in Germany (between August 8, 2020, and November 1, 2020), we conducted an ecological momentary assessment with 131 participants who experienced at least mild COVID-19–related distress and loneliness. To estimate negative mood inertia, we built a lag-1 three-level autoregressive model.ResultsWe found that information exposure and active daily COVID-19 cases did not have an impact on negative mood amid a postlockdown period. However, there was a day-to-day carryover effect of negative mood. In addition, worrying about COVID-19, feeling restricted by COVID-19, and feeling lonely increased negative mood.ConclusionsThe mental health of a vulnerable population is still challenged by COVID-19–related stressors after the lifting of a strict lockdown. This study highlights the need to protect mental health during postpandemic periods.
Highlights
The COVID-19 pandemic and its associated socioeconomic consequences increased global mental health problems [1,2]
We found that information exposure and active daily COVID-19 cases did not have an impact on negative mood amid a postlockdown period
To investigate whether COVID-19–related stressors remain beyond lockdown measures, we set up an ecological momentary assessment (EMA) study in Germany during a postlockdown period
Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic and its associated socioeconomic consequences increased global mental health problems [1,2]. Negative mental health outcomes of the COVID-19 pandemic are associated with fear of becoming infected [3,4] and various mitigation strategies to curb the spread of COVID-19 (eg, curfews and restrictions to public life). These measures can disrupt regular routines, impair mood homeostasis [5,6,7], and impose economic hardship (eg, income loss and unemployment) [8], which can fuel anxiety, depression, and loneliness [9,10,11,12]. Little is known about mental health problems during a low-incidence period of the pandemic without strict public health measures
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