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The Impact of Mental Health and Sociodemographic Characteristics on Quality of Life and Life Satisfaction during the Second Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic—Results of a Population-Based Survey in Germany

Author

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  • Alina Geprägs

    (Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, 89075 Ulm, Germany)

  • David Bürgin

    (Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, 89075 Ulm, Germany
    Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Research Department (UPKKJ), Psychiatric University Hospitals, University of Basel, 4002 Basel, Switzerland)

  • Jörg M. Fegert

    (Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, 89075 Ulm, Germany)

  • Elmar Brähler

    (Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
    Integrated Research and Treatment Center Adiposity Diseases, Behavioral Medicine Unit, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Leipzig University Medical Center, 04103 Leipzig, Germany)

  • Vera Clemens

    (Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, 89075 Ulm, Germany)

Abstract

A decreased quality of life was shown for numerous factors at the beginning of the pandemic. However, it is important to identify people who are at-risk for long-term impairments during the pandemic and its aftermath. Within this study, we aimed to investigate quality of life within a German population-based sample (2515 participants; 51.6% female; mean age 50.09 years) during the second year of the pandemic (2021). Our results showed that the majority reported no pandemic-associated change in quality of life at this state of the pandemic. Higher life satisfaction was associated with fewer mental health problems, no pre-existing somatic and psychiatric disorders, higher income, no income loss during the pandemic, living with others, and younger age. In contrast, in a high-risk group encompassing participants with lower quality of life, only mental health, pre-existing somatic disorders, and living alone had significant associations with quality of life, indicating a smaller scope for improvement in this high-risk group. Age, income loss, and depressive symptoms predicted a decrease in quality of life since the beginning of the pandemic. Our results highlight the importance of mental health, especially in times of pandemic, and underline the need for low-threshold mental health support.

Suggested Citation

  • Alina Geprägs & David Bürgin & Jörg M. Fegert & Elmar Brähler & Vera Clemens, 2022. "The Impact of Mental Health and Sociodemographic Characteristics on Quality of Life and Life Satisfaction during the Second Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic—Results of a Population-Based Survey in German," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-11, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:14:p:8734-:d:865293
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Benjamin W Nelson & Adam Pettitt & Jessica E Flannery & Nicholas B Allen, 2020. "Rapid assessment of psychological and epidemiological correlates of COVID-19 concern, financial strain, and health-related behavior change in a large online sample," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(11), pages 1-16, November.
    2. Vincenzo Alfano & Salvatore Ercolano, 2020. "The Efficacy of Lockdown Against COVID-19: A Cross-Country Panel Analysis," Applied Health Economics and Health Policy, Springer, vol. 18(4), pages 509-517, August.
    3. Manuel B. Huber & Julia Felix & Martin Vogelmann & Reiner Leidl, 2017. "Health-Related Quality of Life of the General German Population in 2015: Results from the EQ-5D-5L," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-12, April.
    4. Johanna Katharina Hohls & Hans-Helmut König & Eleanor Quirke & André Hajek, 2021. "Anxiety, Depression and Quality of Life—A Systematic Review of Evidence from Longitudinal Observational Studies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-26, November.
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