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Temporal dynamics in mental health symptoms and loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic in a longitudinal probability sample: a network analysis
Figuring out which symptoms are central for symptom escalation during the COVID-19 pandemic is important for targeting prevention and intervention. Previous studies have contributed to the understanding of the course of psychological distress during the pandemic, but less is known about key sympto...
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| Autoren: | , , , |
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| Format: | Artikel |
| Sprache: | Englisch |
| Veröffentlicht: |
Philipps-Universität Marburg
2023
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| Schlagworte: | |
| Online Zugang: | PDF-Volltext |
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| Zusammenfassung: | Figuring out which symptoms are central for symptom escalation during the COVID-19 pandemic is important for targeting
prevention and intervention. Previous studies have contributed to the understanding of the course of psychological distress during
the pandemic, but less is known about key symptoms of psychological distress over time. Going beyond a pathogenetic pathway
perspective, we applied the network approach to psychopathology to examine how psychological distress unfolds in a period of
maximum stress (pre-pandemic to pandemic onset) and a period of repeated stress (pandemic peak to pandemic peak). We
conducted secondary data analyses with the Understanding Society data (N = 17,761), a longitudinal probability study in the UK
with data before (2019), at the onset of (April 2020), and during the COVID-19 pandemic (November 2020 & January 2021). Using
the General Health Questionnaire and one loneliness item, we computed three temporal cross-lagged panel network models to
analyze psychological distress over time. Specifically, we computed (1) a pre-COVID to first incidence peak network, (2) a first incidence
peak to second incidence peak network, and (3) a second incidence peak to third incidence peak network. All networks were highly
consistent over time. Loneliness and thinking of self as worthless displayed a high influence on other symptoms. Feeling depressed
and not overcoming difficulties had many incoming connections, thus constituting an end-product of symptom cascades. Our
findings highlight the importance of loneliness and self-worth for psychological distress during COVID-19, which may have
important implications in therapy and prevention. Prevention and intervention measures are discussed, as single session
interventions are available that specifically target loneliness and worthlessness to alleviate mental health problems. |
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| Beschreibung: | Gefördert durch den Open-Access-Publikationsfonds der UB Marburg. |
| DOI: | 10.1038/s41398-023-02444-z |