Health Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Department of Psychology, University of Mannheim, Germany; Mannheim Center for Data Science, University of Mannheim, Germany; Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Center for Adaptive Rationality, Berlin, Germany.
Collaborative Research Center 884 "Political Economy of Reforms," University of Mannheim, Germany; School of Social Sciences, Department of Sociology, University of Mannheim, Germany.
Soc Sci Med. 2021 Oct;287:114333. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114333. Epub 2021 Aug 20.
To understand the mental health response to repeated and prolonged stress during the COVID-19 related lockdown and the role of specific health behaviors to buffer against this stress.
In a longitudinal study with several measurement points covering three months during the COVID-19 pandemic, about 3500 randomly selected participants representative of the German population reported on their mental health (anxiety, depression, loneliness) and health behaviors (screen time, snack consumption, physical activity).
Symptoms of anxiety, depression, and loneliness were highest shortly after the lockdown came into effect. Over time, the symptoms were stable or went down slightly, corresponding to patterns of habituation. Among people with higher vulnerability to poor mental health during the lockdown (e.g., women), the proportion with high levels of anxiety, depression, and loneliness was considerably larger. These groups also reported fewer health-promoting behaviors. More screen time, more snacking, and less physical activity were related to higher symptoms of anxiety, depression, and loneliness across all time points. Changes in health behaviors over time mostly did not predict changes in mental health symptoms.
Mental health and engagement in protective health behaviors was lowest at the start of the lockdown. Health behaviors mostly returned to pre-lockdown levels within three months. Engaging in healthier behaviors was associated with better mental health. Policy implications of these findings are discussed. This study provides important insights into (unintended) side effects of an international crisis and can contribute to a better understanding of how to preserve mental health.
了解 COVID-19 相关封锁期间反复和长期压力下的心理健康反应，以及特定健康行为在缓冲这种压力方面的作用。
在一项具有多个测量点的纵向研究中，该研究在 COVID-19 大流行期间覆盖了三个月，约 3500 名随机选择的具有代表性的德国人口参与者报告了他们的心理健康（焦虑、抑郁、孤独）和健康行为（屏幕时间、零食消费、身体活动）。
焦虑、抑郁和孤独症状在封锁生效后不久达到最高水平。随着时间的推移，症状稳定或略有下降，与习惯化模式相对应。在封锁期间心理健康脆弱性较高的人群（例如女性）中，焦虑、抑郁和孤独程度较高的比例要大得多。这些群体也报告了较少的促进健康的行为。在所有时间点，更多的屏幕时间、更多的零食消费和更少的身体活动与更高的焦虑、抑郁和孤独症状相关。随着时间的推移，健康行为的变化大多与心理健康症状的变化无关。
心理健康和参与保护健康的行为在封锁开始时最低。在三个月内，健康行为大多恢复到封锁前的水平。参与更健康的行为与更好的心理健康相关。这些发现的政策意义正在讨论中。这项研究提供了对国际危机（意外）的副作用的重要见解，并有助于更好地理解如何保护心理健康。
