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Quintas J, Guerreiro A, de Carvalho MJL, Duarte V, Pedro AR, Gama AF, Keygnaert I, Dias S. The Implication of the First Wave of COVID-19 on Mental Health: Results from a Portuguese Sample. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 19:ijerph19116489. [PMID: 35682079 PMCID: PMC9180313 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19116489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
The social conditions created by the COVID-19 pandemic had a great potential to affect the mental health of individuals. Meta-analyses indicate a rise in these problems in these periods among general populations, patients and health professionals, even with substantial heterogeneous results. This paper examines mental health impacts specifically during the first wave of COVID-19. An online survey was conducted with a Portuguese convenience sample (N = 1.062) comprising questions about substance use, perceived stress, post-traumatic stress disorder and self-damage behaviors. The results concerning substance use show an extensive use of medication to sleep or calm down, especially among women and older respondents, a small percentage of alcohol consumers with a high pattern of use and less frequent cannabis consumption, even with a quarter of users who began only in the COVID-19 period. The rates of perceived stress and PTSD were higher compared with international prevalence estimations during the pandemic conditions. Both correlated measures were worse for women and young people. Another problematic issue was the rate of suicidal ideation, with a relevant proportion of starters during this period. These data reinforce the need to promote access to mental health services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Quintas
- CJS—Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Crime, Justice and Security, School of Criminology, Faculty of Law, University of Porto, 4050-123 Porto, Portugal;
- Correspondence:
| | - Ana Guerreiro
- CJS—Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Crime, Justice and Security, School of Criminology, Faculty of Law, University of Porto, 4050-123 Porto, Portugal;
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, University of Maia (UMAIA), 4475-690 Maia, Portugal;
| | - Maria João Leote de Carvalho
- NOVA School of Social Sciences and Humanities (NOVA FCSH), 1069-061 Lisbon, Portugal;
- CICS.NOVA—Interdisciplinary Centre of Social Sciences, 1099-085 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Vera Duarte
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, University of Maia (UMAIA), 4475-690 Maia, Portugal;
- CICS.NOVA—Interdisciplinary Centre of Social Sciences, 1099-085 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ana Rita Pedro
- Public Health Research Centre, NOVA National School of Public Health, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 1600-560 Lisbon, Portugal; (A.R.P.); (A.F.G.); (S.D.)
- Comprehensive Health Research Centre (CHRC), Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 1150-082 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ana Filipa Gama
- Public Health Research Centre, NOVA National School of Public Health, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 1600-560 Lisbon, Portugal; (A.R.P.); (A.F.G.); (S.D.)
- Comprehensive Health Research Centre (CHRC), Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 1150-082 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Inês Keygnaert
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium;
- WHO Collaborating Centre: International Centre for Reproductive Health (ICRH), Centre for Social Studies on Migration and Refugees (CESSMIR), 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sónia Dias
- Public Health Research Centre, NOVA National School of Public Health, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 1600-560 Lisbon, Portugal; (A.R.P.); (A.F.G.); (S.D.)
- Comprehensive Health Research Centre (CHRC), Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 1150-082 Lisbon, Portugal
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