Does living close to a petrochemical complex increase the adverse psychological effects of the COVID-19 lockdown?

Paloma Vicens, Luis Heredia, Edgar Bustamante, Yolanda Pérez, José L Domingo and Margarita Torrente

PLOS ONE, 2021, vol. 16, issue 3, 1-22

Abstract: The petrochemical industry has made the economic development of many local communities possible, increasing employment opportunities and generating a complex network of closely-related secondary industries. However, it is known that petrochemical industries emit air pollutants, which have been related to different negative effects on mental health. In addition, many people around the world are being exposed to highly stressful situations deriving from the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdowns adopted by national and regional governments. The present study aims to analyse the possible differential effects on various psychological outcomes (stress, anxiety, depression and emotional regulation strategies) stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic and consequent lockdown experienced by individuals living near an important petrochemical complex and subjects living in other areas, nonexposed to the characteristic environmental pollutants emitted by these kinds of complex. The sample consisted of 1607 subjects who answered an ad hoc questionnaire on lockdown conditions, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS) and the Emotional Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ). The results indicate that people living closer to petrochemical complexes reported greater risk perception [K = 73.42, p

Date: 2021
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:plo:pone00:0249058

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0249058

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