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

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cris.lastimport.scopus2025-11-08T04:10:15Z
dc.abstract.enBackground: 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.
dc.affiliationInstytut Psychologii Wydział Psychologii w Katowicach
dc.affiliationWydział Psychologii w Katowicach
dc.affiliationInstytut Psychologii
dc.contributor.authorChudzicka-Czupała, Agata
dc.contributor.authorChiang, Soon-Kiat
dc.contributor.authorGrabowski, Damian
dc.contributor.authorŻywiołek-Szeja, Marta
dc.contributor.authorQuek, Matthew
dc.contributor.authorPudełek, Bartosz
dc.contributor.authorTeopiz, Kayla
dc.contributor.authorHo, Roger
dc.contributor.authorMcIntyre, Roger S.
dc.date.access2022-11-21
dc.date.accessioned2025-11-07T13:04:07Z
dc.date.available2025-11-07T13:04:07Z
dc.date.created2022-11-16
dc.date.issued2022
dc.description.abstract<jats:p>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.</jats:p>
dc.description.accesstimeat_publication
dc.description.issue22
dc.description.physical1-16
dc.description.sdgGoodHealthAndWellBeing
dc.description.versionfinal_published
dc.description.volume19
dc.identifier.doi10.3390/ijerph192215405
dc.identifier.issn1660-4601
dc.identifier.urihttps://share.swps.edu.pl/handle/swps/1972
dc.identifier.weblinkhttps://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/22/15405
dc.languageen
dc.pbn.affiliationpsychologia
dc.rightsCC-BY
dc.rights.questionYes_rights
dc.share.articleOPEN_JOURNAL
dc.subject.endepression
dc.subject.enanxiety
dc.subject.enpublic health
dc.subject.enCOVID-19
dc.subject.enpandemic
dc.subject.enstress
dc.subject.enpolicy
dc.subject.enpsychological impact
dc.subject.ensocial determinants
dc.subject.enfatigue
dc.swps.sciencecloudnosend
dc.titlePredictors of Psychological Distress across Three Time Periods during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Poland
dc.title.journalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
dc.typeJournalArticle
dspace.entity.typeArticle