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Mental Health during the COVID-19 Lockdown over the Christmas Period in Austria and the Effects of Sociodemographic and Lifestyle Factors

Author

Listed:
  • Rachel Dale

    (Department for Psychotherapy and Biopsychosocial Health, Danube University Krems, 3500 Krems, Austria)

  • Sanja Budimir

    (Department for Psychotherapy and Biopsychosocial Health, Danube University Krems, 3500 Krems, Austria
    Department of Work, Organization and Society, Ghent University, Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat, 9000 Ghent, Belgium)

  • Thomas Probst

    (Department for Psychotherapy and Biopsychosocial Health, Danube University Krems, 3500 Krems, Austria)

  • Peter Stippl

    (Austrian Federal Association for Psychotherapy (ÖBVP), 1030 Vienna, Austria)

  • Christoph Pieh

    (Department for Psychotherapy and Biopsychosocial Health, Danube University Krems, 3500 Krems, Austria)

Abstract

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic a decline in mental health has been reported. This online study investigated mental health and well-being in Austria during a strict lockdown. In total, N = 1505 participants were recruited between 23 December 2020 and 4 January 2021 and levels of depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), sleep quality (ISI), well-being (WHO-5), quality of life (WHO-QOL) and stress (PSS-10) were measured. 26% scored above the cut-off for moderate depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 ≥ 10; ♀ = 32%; ♂ = 21%), 23% above the cut-off for moderate anxiety (GAF-7 ≥ 10; ♀ = 29%; ♂ = 17%) and 18% above the cut-off for moderate insomnia (ISI ≥ 15; ♀ = 21%; ♂ = 16%). Mean-scores for quality of life (psychological WHO-QOL) were 68.89, for well-being (WHO-5) 14.34, and for stress (PSS-10) 16.42. The youngest age group (18–24) was most burdened and showed significantly more mental health symptoms compared with the oldest age group (65+) in depressive symptoms (50% vs. 12%), anxiety symptoms (35% vs. 10%), and insomnia (25% vs. 11%, all p -values < 0.05). Mental health decreased compared to both the first lockdown earlier in 2020 and pre-pandemic data. Further analyses indicate these findings were especially apparent for the under 24-year-olds, women, single/separated people, low incomes and those who do not partake in any physical activity (all p -values < 0.05). We highlight the need for ongoing mental health support, particularly to the most burdened groups.

Suggested Citation

  • Rachel Dale & Sanja Budimir & Thomas Probst & Peter Stippl & Christoph Pieh, 2021. "Mental Health during the COVID-19 Lockdown over the Christmas Period in Austria and the Effects of Sociodemographic and Lifestyle Factors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-15, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:7:p:3679-:d:528347
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Michael Mutz, 2016. "Christmas and Subjective Well-Being: a Research Note," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 11(4), pages 1341-1356, December.
    2. Pedro Silva Moreira & Sónia Ferreira & Beatriz Couto & Mafalda Machado-Sousa & Marcos Fernández & Catarina Raposo-Lima & Nuno Sousa & Maria Picó-Pérez & Pedro Morgado, 2021. "Protective Elements of Mental Health Status during the COVID-19 Outbreak in the Portuguese Population," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-10, February.
    3. Graeme Hawthorne & Helen Herrman & Barbara Murphy, 2006. "Interpreting the WHOQOL-Brèf: Preliminary Population Norms and Effect Sizes," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 77(1), pages 37-59, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Elke Humer & Christoph Pieh & Ida-Maria Kisler & Wolfgang Schimböck & Petra Schadenhofer, 2022. "A Longitudinal Study on Mental Well-Being, Perceived Stress Level and Job-Related Meaningfulness of Austrian Telephone Emergency Service Counselors during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-9, March.
    2. Stefanie Winter & Andrea Jesser & Thomas Probst & Yvonne Schaffler & Ida-Maria Kisler & Barbara Haid & Christoph Pieh & Elke Humer, 2023. "How the COVID-19 Pandemic Affects the Provision of Psychotherapy: Results from Three Online Surveys on Austrian Psychotherapists," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-15, January.
    3. Elke Humer & Barbara Haid & Wolfgang Schimböck & Andrea Reisinger & Marion Gasser & Heidrun Eichberger-Heckmann & Peter Stippl & Christoph Pieh & Thomas Probst, 2021. "Provision of Psychotherapy One Year after the Beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Austria," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-10, May.
    4. Víctor-Raúl López-Ruiz & José Luis Alfaro-Navarro & Nuria Huete-Alcocer & Domingo Nevado-Peña, 2022. "Psychological and Social Vulnerability in Spaniards’ Quality of Life in the Face of COVID-19: Age and Gender Results," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-16, August.
    5. Felix Beierle & Johannes Schobel & Carsten Vogel & Johannes Allgaier & Lena Mulansky & Fabian Haug & Julian Haug & Winfried Schlee & Marc Holfelder & Michael Stach & Marc Schickler & Harald Baumeister, 2021. "Corona Health—A Study- and Sensor-Based Mobile App Platform Exploring Aspects of the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-19, July.
    6. Rachel Dale & Teresa O’Rourke & Elke Humer & Andrea Jesser & Paul L. Plener & Christoph Pieh, 2021. "Mental Health of Apprentices during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Austria and the Effect of Gender, Migration Background, and Work Situation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-11, August.
    7. Katja Haider & Elke Humer & Magdalena Weber & Christoph Pieh & Tiam Ghorab & Rachel Dale & Carina Dinhof & Afsaneh Gächter & Thomas Probst & Andrea Jesser, 2023. "An Assessment of Austrian School Students’ Mental Health and Their Wish for Support: A Mixed Methods Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-18, March.
    8. Yvonne Schaffler & Afsaneh Gächter & Rachel Dale & Andrea Jesser & Thomas Probst & Christoph Pieh, 2021. "Concerns and Support after One Year of COVID-19 in Austria: A Qualitative Study Using Content Analysis with 1505 Participants," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-21, August.

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