The Implication of the First Wave of COVID-19 on Mental Health: Results from a Portuguese Sample

Jorge Quintas, Ana Guerreiro, Maria João Leote de Carvalho, Vera Duarte, Ana Rita Pedro, Ana Filipa Gama, Inês Keygnaert and Sónia Dias
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Jorge Quintas: CJS—Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Crime, Justice and Security, School of Criminology, Faculty of Law, University of Porto, 4050-123 Porto, Portugal
Ana Guerreiro: CJS—Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Crime, Justice and Security, School of Criminology, Faculty of Law, University of Porto, 4050-123 Porto, Portugal
Maria João Leote de Carvalho: NOVA School of Social Sciences and Humanities (NOVA FCSH), 1069-061 Lisbon, Portugal
Vera Duarte: Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, University of Maia (UMAIA), 4475-690 Maia, Portugal
Ana Rita Pedro: Public Health Research Centre, NOVA National School of Public Health, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 1600-560 Lisbon, Portugal
Ana Filipa Gama: Public Health Research Centre, NOVA National School of Public Health, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 1600-560 Lisbon, Portugal
Inês Keygnaert: Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Sónia Dias: Public Health Research Centre, NOVA National School of Public Health, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 1600-560 Lisbon, Portugal

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 11, 1-12

Abstract: The social conditions created by the COVID-19 pandemic had a great potential to affect the mental health of individuals. Meta-analyses indicate a rise in these problems in these periods among general populations, patients and health professionals, even with substantial heterogeneous results. This paper examines mental health impacts specifically during the first wave of COVID-19. An online survey was conducted with a Portuguese convenience sample (N = 1.062) comprising questions about substance use, perceived stress, post-traumatic stress disorder and self-damage behaviors. The results concerning substance use show an extensive use of medication to sleep or calm down, especially among women and older respondents, a small percentage of alcohol consumers with a high pattern of use and less frequent cannabis consumption, even with a quarter of users who began only in the COVID-19 period. The rates of perceived stress and PTSD were higher compared with international prevalence estimations during the pandemic conditions. Both correlated measures were worse for women and young people. Another problematic issue was the rate of suicidal ideation, with a relevant proportion of starters during this period. These data reinforce the need to promote access to mental health services.

Keywords: COVID-19; lockdown; mental health; public health; psychological impact (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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