Transdiagnostic Mechanisms of Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic on Adults and Families in Germany: Study Protocol of a Cross-Sectional and 1-Year Longitudinal Study.

Jana Volkert,Hannah Wießner,Svenja Taubner,Anna K Georg,Laura Kling,Julia Holl,Anna Berning

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.720104

Jana Volkert, Hannah Wießner + Show 5 more

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https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.720104

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Abstract

Background: Since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, psychological distress is increased. Transdiagnostic mechanisms, including trauma, personality functioning, mentalizing and emotion regulation are considered relevant to the development and maintenance of mental health problems and therefore may play a role in individuals’ reactions to the pandemic.Aim: To identify moderating and mediating factors associated with pandemic-related distress and mental health problems in adults and families, we aim to investigate the interactions of interpersonal trauma (childhood trauma and domestic violence), psychological capacities (personality functioning, mentalizing and emotion regulation) and pandemic-related adversity on psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, we aim to investigate behavioral and cognitive consequences of the pandemic (e.g., media consumption, vaccination status, conspiracy beliefs).Methods: Using an online-based cross-sectional and longitudinal design, we will investigate a sample of adult participants recruited via online platforms in German-speaking countries over the course of 1 year with four measurements points via self-report instruments (personality functioning: PID5BF +; mentalizing: MentS, PRFQ; emotion regulation: DERS-SF; mental health problems: PHQ-9, GAD-7; a composite pandemic-related stress score). Structural equation and multi-level modeling will be performed for data analyses.Implications: This study will provide data on the moderating and mediating effects of trauma, personality functioning and mentalizing during the pandemic in a large community sample, particularly on vulnerable groups like families. Identifying transdiagnostic mechanisms of psychopathology in the course of a pandemic crisis may provide valuable insight for the development of pre- and intervention measures for potential psychological distress during and post the pandemic.

Highlights

The current COVID-19 pandemic has a massive impact on all people’s life’s including individual, family related, societal, economic and financial hardship, social and cultural deprivation, and educational disadvantages (e.g., Kujawa et al, 2020).A number of studies examined the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic showing that psychological distress is generally increased across populations worldwide (e.g., Salari et al, 2020; Wu et al, 2020)
Thereby, we aim to investigate the relationship of childhood trauma, psychological capacities including personality functioning, emotional awareness and regulation, and mentalizing abilities on the psychosocial impact of the pandemic
This paper describes the study protocol of a cross-sectional and longitudinal study on risk and protective factors of mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic

Summary

Introduction

A number of studies examined the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic showing that psychological distress is generally increased across populations worldwide (e.g., Salari et al, 2020; Wu et al, 2020). In Europe, several studies have shown an increase in psychological distress related to the pandemic (Pierce et al, 2020; Rodríguez-Rey et al, 2020; Rossi et al, 2020). Studies from Germany, in particular, are in line with international findings, showing for example significantly higher levels of depression, anxiety and increased psychological distress in the general population during the pandemic and during lockdown phases (Bäuerle et al, 2020; Benke et al, 2020; Petzold et al, 2020). Little is known about psychological risk and protective factors of families, which may amplify or buffer the potential effect from COVID-19 related adversities and parental distress on risk of child abuse. Transdiagnostic mechanisms, including trauma, personality functioning, mentalizing and emotion regulation are considered relevant to the development and maintenance of mental health problems and may play a role in individuals’ reactions to the pandemic

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