Psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, what are the differences between countries?
COVID-19 has brought about dramatic changes in daily life and significant social/economic impacts. This study compares the effects of the pandemic on two culturally/economically similar European countries, the UK and Germany.
Details of the study
Participants (UK = 241, German = 541) completed and analyzed an online survey using the Symptom-Check-List-27 (SCL-27) to assess COVID-19 exposure, economic status and impact on work, material and media consumption, and mental health.
Results.
Clear differences were found between the two countries, with UK respondents reporting stronger direct effects on health, economic status, and family. They also showed higher clinical scores and higher prevalence of SCL-27, while German respondents were less expectant of an end to the pandemic and more concerned about the stability of their own lives.
In conclusion.
25% of respondents in both countries reported worsening subjective psychological symptoms, and 20-50% of respondents reached clinical cutoffs for depressive and mood-altering symptoms and anxiety, indicating the need for a coordinated intervention system to support a large segment of the public in particular.
Knolle, F., Ronan, L. & Murray, GK The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of the general population: a comparison between Germany and the UK. BMC Psychol 9, 60 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-021-00565-y
Summary.
According to the results of a study that compared countries with few national differences and investigated what psychological effects there were, the UK appears to be in a less favorable psychological situation. This difference was explained by an increase in the number of infected people due to policy measures, suggesting that the transformation of the psychological situation is not dependent on the individual, but on the environment.
It may be that countries whose policies are not supported and result in unprofitable policies may continue to have negative psychological effects on their citizens.
