Predictors of Psychological Distress across Three Time Periods during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Poland

Agata Chudzicka-Czupała; Soon-Kiat Chiang; Damian Grabowski; Marta Żywiołek-Szeja; Matthew Quek; Bartosz Pudełek; Kayla Teopiz; Roger Ho; Roger S McIntyre

doi:10.3390/ijerph192215405

Predictors of Psychological Distress across Three Time Periods during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Poland

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Nov 21;19(22):15405. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192215405.

Authors

Agata Chudzicka-Czupała¹, Soon-Kiat Chiang², Damian Grabowski¹, Marta Żywiołek-Szeja¹, Matthew Quek³, Bartosz Pudełek¹, Kayla Teopiz^{4

5

6}, Roger Ho^{2

7}, Roger S McIntyre^{4

5

6}

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Psychology, SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, 40-326 Katowice, Poland.
² Department of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore.
³ School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, 4 Dublin, Ireland.
⁴ Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5T 2S8, Canada.
⁵ Department of Psychiatry and Pharmacology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 2E8, Canada.
⁶ Brain and Cognition Discovery Foundation, Toronto, ON M4W 3W4, Canada.
⁷ Institute for Health Innovation and Technology (iHealthtech), National University of Singapore, Singapore 117599, Singapore.

Abstract

Background: Since the onset of COVID-19, public health policies and public opinions changed from stringent preventive measures against spread of COVID-19 to policies accommodating life with continued, diminished risk for contracting COVID-19. Poland is a country that demonstrated severe psychological impact and negative mental health. The study aims to examine psychological impact and changes in levels of depression, anxiety, and stress among three cross-sectional samples of Polish people and COVID-19-related factors associated with adverse mental health.

Methods: In total, 2324 Polish persons participated in repeated cross-sectional studies across three surveys: Survey 1 (22 to 26 March 2020), Survey 2 (21 October to 3 December 2020), and Survey 3 (3 November to 10 December 2021). Participants completed an online survey, including Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), demographics, knowledge, and concerns of COVID-19 and precautionary measures.

Results: A significant reduction of IES-R scores was seen across surveys, while DASS-21 scores were significantly higher in Survey 2. There was significant reduction in the frequency of following COVID-19 news, recent COVID-19 testing, and home isolation from Survey 1 to 3. Being emale was significantly associated with higher IES-R and DASS-21 scores in Surveys 1 and 2. Student status was significantly associated with higher DASS-21 across surveys. Chills, myalgia, and fatigue were significantly associated with high IES-R or DASS-21 scores across surveys. Frequency of wearing masks and perception that mask could reduce risk of COVID-19 were significantly associated with higher IES-R and DASS-21 scores.

Conclusion: Conclusions: The aforementioned findings indicate a reduction in the level of the measured subjective distress andin the frequency of checking COVID-19 news-related information across three periods during the pandemic in Poland.

Keywords: COVID-19; anxiety; depression; fatigue; pandemic; policy; psychological impact; public health; social determinants; stress.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

COVID-19 Testing
COVID-19* / epidemiology
Cross-Sectional Studies
Humans
Pandemics
Poland / epidemiology
Psychological Distress*
Public Policy

Grants and funding

This study was funded by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education in Poland under the 2019–2022 program, Regional Initiative of Excellence, project number 012/RID/2018/19, NUS Department of Psychological Medicine (R-177-000-100-001/R-177-000-003-001/R177000702733) and NUS iHeathtech Other Operating Expenses (R-722-000-004-731).