Will Nothing Be the Same Again?: Changes in Lifestyle during COVID-19 Pandemic and Consequences on Mental Health

Emanuele Caroppo, Marianna Mazza, Alessandra Sannella, Giuseppe Marano, Carla Avallone, Angelo Emilio Claro, Delfina Janiri, Lorenzo Moccia, Luigi Janiri and Gabriele Sani
Additional contact information
Emanuele Caroppo: Local Health Unit ROMA 2, Mental Health Department, 00159 Rome, Italy
Marianna Mazza: Department of Neurosciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
Alessandra Sannella: Department of Human Sciences, Social and Health, University of Cassino and South Lazio, 03043 Cassino, Italy
Giuseppe Marano: Department of Neurosciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
Carla Avallone: Department of Neurosciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
Angelo Emilio Claro: Department of Neurosciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
Delfina Janiri: Department of Neurosciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
Lorenzo Moccia: Department of Neurosciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
Luigi Janiri: Department of Neurosciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
Gabriele Sani: Department of Neurosciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 16, 1-8

Abstract: Social isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has drastically affected lifestyles: from sedentary behaviors to reduced physical activity, from disrupted sleep patterns to altered dietary habits. As a consequence, serious mental and emotional responses have been registered. There was a significant decline in physical and other meaningful activities of daily living, leisure, social activity, and education. In children, collateral effects of the pandemic include inadequate nutrition with a risk of both overweight and underweight, addiction to screens, lack of schooling, and psychosocial difficulties. Older adults are frequently unable to adapt to lockdown measures and suffer from depression and cognitive complaints. Recent studies focusing on changes in lifestyle during the Covid-19 pandemic and consequences on mental health have been identified in PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Embase, and ScienceDirect. All the available literature has been retrospectively reviewed. The results of the present narrative review suggest that mental distress caused by social isolation seems to be linked not only to personality characteristics but also to several lifestyle components (sleep disruption, altered eating habits, reduced physical activity). This review aims to explore major changes in the lifestyle and quality of life and the impact of these changes on mental health, and to inform clinicians and policymakers about elements that may reduce the negative psychological effects of the quarantine period imposed during this worldwide crisis. There is an urgent need for tailored preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic mental health interventions for the general population and for higher risk groups.

Keywords: COVID-19; lifestyle; unhealthy habits; mental health; personalized medicine (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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