TY - JOUR
T1 - A longitudinal study of risk and protective factors for symptoms of adjustment disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic
AU - Lotzin, Annett
AU - Stahlmann, Katharina
AU - Acquarini, Elena
AU - Ajdukovic, Dean
AU - Ajdukovic, Marina
AU - Anastassiou-Hadjicharalambous, Xenia
AU - Ardino, Vittoria
AU - Bondjers, Kristina
AU - Bragesjö, Maria
AU - Böttche, Maria
AU - Dragan, Małgorzata
AU - Figueiredo-Braga, Margarida
AU - Gelezelyte, Odeta
AU - Grajewski, Piotr
AU - Javakhishvili, Jana Darejan
AU - Kazlauskas, Evaldas
AU - Lenferink, Lonneke
AU - Lioupi, Chrysanthi
AU - Lueger-Schuster, Brigitte
AU - Mooren, Trudy
AU - Sales, Luisa
AU - Tsiskarishvili, Lela
AU - Zrnic Novakovic, Irina
AU - Schäfer, Ingo
AU - ADJUST Study Consortium
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2024/4/22
Y1 - 2024/4/22
N2 - Background: The COVID-19 pandemic caused multiple stressors that may lead to symptoms of adjustment disorder. Objective: We longitudinally examined relationships between risk and protective factors, pandemic-related stressors and symptoms of adjustment disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as whether these relationships differed by the time of assessment. Method: The European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ESTSS) ADJUST Study included N = 15,169 participants aged 18 years and above. Participants from 11 European countries were recruited and screened three times at 6-month intervals from June 2020 to January 2022. Associations between risk and protective factors (e.g. gender), stressors (e.g. fear of infection), and symptoms of adjustment disorder (AjD, ADNM-8) and their interaction with time of assessment were examined using mixed linear regression. Results: The following predictors were significantly associated with higher AjD symptom levels: female or diverse gender; older age; pandemic-related news consumption >30 min a day; a current or previous mental health disorder; trauma exposure before or during the pandemic; a good, satisfactory or poor health status (vs. very good); burden related to governmental crisis management and communication; fear of infection; restricted social contact; work-related problems; restricted activity; and difficult housing conditions. The following predictors were associated with lower AjD levels: self-employment or retirement; working in healthcare; and face-to-face contact ≥ once a week with loved ones or friends. The effects of the following predictors on AjD symptoms differed by the time of assessment in the course of the pandemic: a current or previous mental disorder; burden related to governmental crisis management; income reduction; and a current trauma exposure. Conclusions: We identified risk factors and stressors predicting AjD symptom levels at different stages of the pandemic. For some predictors, the effects on mental health may change at different stages of a pandemic.
AB - Background: The COVID-19 pandemic caused multiple stressors that may lead to symptoms of adjustment disorder. Objective: We longitudinally examined relationships between risk and protective factors, pandemic-related stressors and symptoms of adjustment disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as whether these relationships differed by the time of assessment. Method: The European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ESTSS) ADJUST Study included N = 15,169 participants aged 18 years and above. Participants from 11 European countries were recruited and screened three times at 6-month intervals from June 2020 to January 2022. Associations between risk and protective factors (e.g. gender), stressors (e.g. fear of infection), and symptoms of adjustment disorder (AjD, ADNM-8) and their interaction with time of assessment were examined using mixed linear regression. Results: The following predictors were significantly associated with higher AjD symptom levels: female or diverse gender; older age; pandemic-related news consumption >30 min a day; a current or previous mental health disorder; trauma exposure before or during the pandemic; a good, satisfactory or poor health status (vs. very good); burden related to governmental crisis management and communication; fear of infection; restricted social contact; work-related problems; restricted activity; and difficult housing conditions. The following predictors were associated with lower AjD levels: self-employment or retirement; working in healthcare; and face-to-face contact ≥ once a week with loved ones or friends. The effects of the following predictors on AjD symptoms differed by the time of assessment in the course of the pandemic: a current or previous mental disorder; burden related to governmental crisis management; income reduction; and a current trauma exposure. Conclusions: We identified risk factors and stressors predicting AjD symptom levels at different stages of the pandemic. For some predictors, the effects on mental health may change at different stages of a pandemic.
KW - adjustment disorder
KW - coronavirus
KW - COVID-19
KW - mental health
KW - pandemic
KW - post-traumatic stress
KW - protective factors
KW - risk factors
KW - stress-related disorders
KW - stressors
U2 - 10.1080/20008066.2024.2318944
DO - 10.1080/20008066.2024.2318944
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85191228933
SN - 2000-8066
VL - 15
JO - European Journal of psychotraumatology
JF - European Journal of psychotraumatology
IS - 1
M1 - 2318944
ER -