The emotional state of young people in Spain after two years and a half of the COVID-19 pandemic (Part I)

 

 

Background and objectives: Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the young population has been suffering from an accumulation of psychological symptoms in Spain. The main objectives of this study were  to assess whether psychological symptoms persisted after

one year and a half of the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain sample of young people, and  to analyze whether pandemic-specific variables (having a chronic illness, living with a person who has a chronic illness, having been infected with COVID-19, having a close person who has died or believing that people are respecting the measures imposed) are related to psychological symptomatology.

Methods: Symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression were measured using the Depression and Stress Anxiety Scale-21 (DASS-21). An ad hoc online questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographical information related to chronic illnesses of the participants, living with a chronically

ill person, contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19, having people close to them who have died of COVID-19, and their perception of whether or not people respect the health measures.

Results: Young people have suffered higher stress, anxiety, and depression levels than at the beginning of the pandemic.

Conclusions: The present study highlights the importance of addressing young people’s mentalhealth, and ensure that future adults emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic in a psychologically strong state.

Introduction

Since the official declaration of the COVID-19 crisis as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), in March 2020, profound changes at physical, emotional, political, economic, and social health levels have been experienced worldwide. In addition, some studies report that depressive

symptoms may occur after suffering COVID-19. According to different studies carried out in different countries, measures such as social distancing, lockdown and the use of masks haveaffected the mental health of the population. Yet, even though these measures have created psychological symptomatology,

the prevalence of clinically significant depressive symptoms has been found to be significantly lower in countries where governments applied strict policies promptly.

Several population-based studies have observed that young people are the most affected by the pandemic.

Moreover, university closures may also have had a strong influence on the emotional state of young people. Moreover, young people have been the most targeted and criminalized population since some groups have broken the rules to stay with their peers.

An increase in the use of new technologies, internet, gambling, substance consumption and inadequate nutrition has been observed among youths. The increase in the use of screens and online games is worrying. Internet addiction is an important topic to study as it is significantly associated with alcohol abuse, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, self-care problems, pain, discomfort, sleep problems,

depression and anxiety. A study comparing the Asian countries China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and the Philippines found that Hong Kong had the highest number of adolescents who report using the Internet on a daily basis (68%) and that Internet addiction is highest in the Philippines (21%).

Additionally, young people are more likely to experience job insecurity, worse working conditions and have lower salaries compared to previous generations and this influences their mental health.

At the beginning of the pandemic, the predominant stress and anxiety symptomatology, the long periods of lockdown, and the continuous changes of the measures to stop the spread of the virus was associated with high levels of uncertainty among young people. In general, the uncertainty about the pandemic has been prolonged over time, and the psychological symptomatology seems to increase in parallel.

In addition to factors associated with the pandemic, several sociodemographic variables might also influence the psychological impact of the pandemic. For example, the youngest people and women seem to be the groups most affected by psychological symptoms.

Our research group have previously reported the psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic in Spanish health professionals, the elderly, university students, children and the general population. However, to date, no studies have reported the levels of stress, anxiety, and depression among young Spanish people after lockdown.

Thus, main objectives of this study were  to assess whether psychological symptoms persisted after one year and a half of the COVID-19 pandemic in  Spain sample of young people; specifically, we aimed to determine whether there were significant differences between age groups (under 25 and over 25) and gender,  to analyze whether pandemic-specific variables (having a chronic illness, living with a person who has a chronic illness, having been infected with COVID-19, having a close person who has

died or believing that people are respecting the measures imposed) are related to psychological symptomatology and  to research on the differences in symptomatology according to COVID-related variables and age.

A. Fernadez (Ayudo)

source: web