As the COVID-19 pandemic took the world by storm in early 2020 and continues to linger, multiple methods have been employed in attempts to slow the spread of the virus and keep the global population as healthy as possible. In the flurry of activity, many of the measures were implemented without much consideration of the consequences—blunting the transmission of COVID-19 was simply too important.
One method, in particular, has been exceptionally controversial on many fronts, including that of mental health. The lockdowns put into place in many communities across the world were intended to reduce the rate of transmission but may have had unintended health consequences.
To determine the accuracy of these assumptions, a study was conducted in the United Kingdom.
Individuals aged 18 and up were surveyed in four waves. These surveys took place between 2015 and 2020. In all, 27,000 adults were included, and of those, 9,748 had complete data and were eligible for use in longitudinal analysis.
The outcomes that were measured were alcohol consumption, current cigarette use, e-cigarette use, loneliness, and psychological distress. These outcomes were assessed in relation to various associations, as well, including age, education level, ethnicity, and gender.
The study found that lockdowns caused psychological distress to rise within one month of implementation. The rise was significant (19.4% to 30.6%) overall with certain demographics experiencing the increase to varying degrees. For example, individuals of Asian background, those with degrees, women, and young adults were the most affected.
Loneliness did not notably increase, while smoking actually declined. Alcohol consumption, however, increased in both those drinking four or more times a week and those binge drinking.
According to this study, the lockdowns implemented around the world in attempts to control the spread of COVID-19 had an overall negative effect on all people, and certain demographics were more likely to experience mental health consequences—namely women and young adults.
At the same time, smoking actually declined in prevalence, but adverse alcohol use increased across the board.
This study only reported on psychological distress one month into the UK lockdown, meaning that there is a possibility of the results being skewed in either direction. Longer or repeated lockdowns could lead to worse mental distressed than observed in the study or have the opposite effect.
However, it is clear that in order to mitigate the negative health impacts of lockdowns, measures must be taken.
This post was last modified on June 13, 2022 10:34 am
Spider veins are a common cosmetic concern for many people, causing small, visible veins to appear just beneath the surface… Read More
Digital Signage for Hospitals: Streamlining Communication in Hospitals SEO description: The use of digital signage for hospitals transforms the way… Read More
Oxygen is the most critical element for human survival, and in scenarios where oxygen levels are compromised, having access to… Read More
In the world of competitive sports and bodybuilding, serious athletes are always on the lookout for reliable, high-quality supplements to… Read More
Car accidents can change lives, causing long-term injuries that affect physical health, finances, and emotional well-being. Recognizing these effects is… Read More
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a serious condition that can result from various forms of negligence, such as car accidents,… Read More
It sucks to be on a tight budget. You have to pick and choose what you buy at the grocery… Read More
We’ve all laid in bed tossing and turning, not being able to sleep. But what if this is happening to… Read More
Addiction can profoundly impact every aspect of an individual’s life, from their physical health to their relationships, career, and spiritual… Read More
The mental health landscape for teenagers is increasingly concerning. Adolescence is a period fraught with changes—physically, emotionally, and socially—that can… Read More