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. 2020 Aug 17;6(5):e90.
doi: 10.1192/bjo.2020.79.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and initial period of lockdown on the mental health and well-being of adults in the UK

Ross G White  1 , Catharina Van Der Boor  1
Affiliations

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and initial period of lockdown on the mental health and well-being of adults in the UK

Ross G White et al. BJPsych Open. .

Abstract

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and well-being were assessed in a convenience sample of 600 UK adults, using a cross-sectional design. Recruited over 2 weeks during the initial phase of lockdown, participants completed an online survey that included COVID-19-related questions, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the World Health Organization (Five) Well-Being Index and the Oxford Capabilities Questionnaire for Mental Health. Self-isolating before lockdown, increased feelings of isolation since lockdown and having COVID-19-related livelihood concerns were associated with poorer mental health, well-being and quality of life. Perceiving increased kindness, community connectedness and being an essential worker were associated with better mental health and well-being outcomes.

Keywords: Anxiety disorders; COVID-19; coronavirus; depressive disorders; pandemics.

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Conflict of interest statement

Supplementary material

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