Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Associated Factors during the Early Stage of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Norway

Tore Bonsaksen, Trond Heir, Inger Schou-Bredal, Øivind Ekeberg, Laila Skogstad and Tine K. Grimholt
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Tore Bonsaksen: Department of Health and Nursing Sciences, Faculty of Social and Health Sciences, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, 2418 Elverum, Norway
Trond Heir: Norwegian Center for Violence and Traumatic Stress Studies, 0484 Oslo, Norway
Inger Schou-Bredal: Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, 0372 Oslo, Norway
Øivind Ekeberg: Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, 0424 Oslo, Norway
Laila Skogstad: Department of Research, Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital HF, 1453 Bjørnemyr, Norway
Tine K. Grimholt: Faculty of Health Studies, VID Specialized University, 0370 Oslo, Norway

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 24, 1-9

Abstract: The COVID-19 outbreak and the sudden lockdown of society in March 2020 had a large impact on people’s daily life and gave rise to concerns for the mental health in the general population. The aim of the study was to examine post-traumatic stress reactions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence of symptom-defined post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and factors associated with post-traumatic stress in the Norwegian population during the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak. A survey was administered via social media channels, to which a sample of 4527 adults (≥18 years) responded. Symptom-defined PTSD was measured with the PTSD Checklist for the DSM-5. The items were specifically linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. We used the DSM-5 diagnostic guidelines to categorize participants as fulfilling the PTSD symptom criteria or not. Associations with PTSD were examined with single and multiple logistic regression analyses. The prevalence of symptom-defined PTSD was 12.5% for men and 19.5% for women. PTSD was associated with lower age, female gender, lack of social support, and a range of pandemic-related variables such as economic concerns, expecting economic loss, having been in quarantine or isolation, being at high risk for complications from COVID-19 infection, and having concern for family and close friends. In conclusion, post-traumatic stress reactions appear to be common in the Norwegian population in the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak. Concerns about finances, health, and family and friends seem to matter.

Keywords: coronavirus; mental health; Norway; population study; PTSD (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (11)

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