The Coronavirus Pandemic and the Occurrence of Psychosomatic Symptoms: Are They Related?

Radka Zidkova, Klara Malinakova, Jitse P. van Dijk and Peter Tavel
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Radka Zidkova: Olomouc University Social Health Institute, Palacky University Olomouc, 771 11 Olomouc, Czech Republic
Klara Malinakova: Olomouc University Social Health Institute, Palacky University Olomouc, 771 11 Olomouc, Czech Republic
Jitse P. van Dijk: Olomouc University Social Health Institute, Palacky University Olomouc, 771 11 Olomouc, Czech Republic
Peter Tavel: Olomouc University Social Health Institute, Palacky University Olomouc, 771 11 Olomouc, Czech Republic

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 7, 1-12

Abstract: Most studies on the coronavirus pandemic focus on clinical aspects of the COVID-19 disease. However, less attention is paid to other health aspects of the pandemic. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the coronavirus pandemic (risk of infection by virus together with associated measures taken to combat it), and the occurrence of a wide range of psychosomatic symptoms and to explore if there is any factor that plays a role in this association. We collected data from a sample of Czech adults ( n = 1431) and measured the occurrence of nine health complaints, respondents’ experience during the pandemic and sociodemographic characteristics. The results showed associations between the coronavirus pandemic and increased psychosomatic symptoms and negative emotions. We further found higher risks of increased health complaints in younger people and women. It is also possible that there is higher risk of increased health complaints for respondents with secondary school education, students, and highly spiritual people, but this relationship has to be further investigated. In contrast, respondents with their highest achieved education level being secondary school graduation had a lower risk of increased frequency of stomach-ache. We also found that more negative emotions could increase the frequency of health complaints. Our findings suggest that the coronavirus pandemic and associated government measures could have a significant influence on the prevalence of health complaints and emotional state.

Keywords: coronavirus pandemic; COVID-19; psychosomatic symptoms; health complaints (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 (2)

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