A longitudinal study of risk and protective factors for symptoms of adjustment disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic

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 - Novakovic, Irina Zrnic

AU - Schäfer, Ingo

AU - ADJUST Study Consortium

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

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 - Humans

KW - COVID-19/psychology

KW - Female

KW - Male

KW - Longitudinal Studies

KW - Adult

KW - Risk Factors

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Adjustment Disorders/epidemiology

KW - Protective Factors

KW - SARS-CoV-2

KW - Europe/epidemiology

KW - Young Adult

KW - Aged

KW - Adolescent

KW - Pandemics

U2 - 10.1080/20008066.2024.2318944

DO - 10.1080/20008066.2024.2318944

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 38644753

VL - 15

SP - 2318944

JO - EUR J PSYCHOTRAUMATO

JF - EUR J PSYCHOTRAUMATO

SN - 2000-8198

IS - 1

ER -