With time, sophisticated designs to further clarify and operationalize a nuanced and fine-grained construct of pandemic fatigue will shed light on the causes and consequences. An example of this would be offering a variety of secure ways (e.g., text, flexible appointment times) to diverse communities in their languages so they can communicate effectively with health care professionals. This can be reflected in practice by providing incentives, so members of any marginalized community feel valued and are provided with a platform to suggest concrete steps for establishing equitable health supports (Rashid & Di Genova, 2022). To that end, mindful attention to available community resources such as local support groups can be used to build social solidarity that can be particularly beneficial to disadvantaged populations (Mannarini et al., 2021).
One notable exception being a set of recommendations related to pandemic fatigue by the World Health Organization (2020). While the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been well documented (Armour et al., 2021; Osofsky et al., 2020; Pillay & Barnes, 2020), how individuals, communities, and countries have coped with it adaptively and effectively, has received far less scholarly attention. These rates escalated in the context of sharp economic challenges, long-term unemployment, closure of businesses, educational, cultural activities, and severe travel limitations, likely exacerbating overall stress. A recent meta-analysis of 43 effect sizes from 36 studies found that globally, regardless of age, status as a medical provider, race, or region of origin, respondents experienced significantly elevated rates of psychopathology symptoms during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic (Schafer et al., 2022). Years of multiple lockdowns, stay-at-home orders, mask mandates, physical distancing, frequent hand washing, emerging variants, differential efficacy of vaccines, and significant lifestyle changes have disrupted almost all facets of life. Partial financial support was provided by a gift from Patricia and Rodes Hart, grant T32-MH18921 from the National Institute of Mental Health and grants UL1TR000445, U24TR , and 5 U24 TR001579–02 from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) program.
Limitations of the Study
Sometimes, the healthiest thing we can do is accept that there is nothing we can do. When overwhelmed with worry or fear, it is sometimes helpful to inform yourself of the facts to assess your personal level of threat. Also, if you have NEJM article on mental health challenges been personally affected by the coronavirus, I wish you or your loved ones a healthy recovery. Research shows that group support is the single most important intervention for psychological trauma, and that’s pretty much what we’re going through right now. Sometimes under threat we go into a freeze response, and we withdraw psychologically and put up a barrier against the pain we’re feeling. We’re giving people the tools to come back into biological, psychological balance.
Social Support.
One aspect that complicates research on the psychological burden of the COVID-19 pandemic is its sudden onset. Previous experiences of childhood trauma and other threatening events can also increase an individual’s vulnerability for the negative effects of subsequent adverse events25,26 such as the COVID-19 pandemic27,28. For example, a lack of exposure to social situations may have contributed to the maintenance of symptomatology within individuals suffering from social anxiety19,23,24. Diagnoses of depression and anxiety are more common with increased age. These strategies can be helpful even when the pandemic is over. In conclusion, it is apparent that we have shown a remarkable level of resilience during the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, but that large interindividual differences exist.
- Within this broader architecture, religious practices provide potent tools for emotional regulation by offering comfort, resilience, and meaning-making.
- Covid-19 rates were falling nation-wide during the data collection window–particularly compared to the weeks leading up to that initial peak–and although surges were reported across the country, states were beginning to implement reopening plans.
- These worries in pregnant women were related to COVID-19-related concerns about being present in public places, perceived infection risk, visiting hospitals, health of the fetus, delivery concerns, a family member being infected, or transmission of COVID-19 to the baby during delivery (Akgor et al., 2021; Taubman-Ben-Ari et al., 2020; Zhang et al., 2020).
If you are at greater risk because of your ethnic group or health condition
Specifically, using a graph theory approach, the authors found that 2 networks, the frontoparietal control network and the default mode network, operated in opposite manners to moderate the effects of perceived stress on changes in depression and anxiety. As such, Cabello-Toscano et al. aimed to investigate whether SyS values from 7 brain networks, originally defined by Yeo et al. (8), could modulate the impact of perceived stress on mental health. Moreover, additional questionnaires were administered during the pandemic to assess the participants’ perceived level of stress and psychological resilience, the latter measured with the Brief Resilient Coping Scale. These data were used to investigate whether the pandemic might have exacerbated individuals’ mental health challenges as well as to investigate the influence of sociodemographic factors (age, sex, and education) on these potential changes. Theme 3, “Building Resilience”, focuses on participants’ efforts to seek information, support, and coping strategies as they navigate their recovery journey.