Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2024 Oct;27(5):e70071.
doi: 10.1111/hex.70071.

Psychosocial Aspects of the Lived Experience of Long COVID: A Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis of Qualitative Studies

Judith Eberhardt  1 , Benjamin Gibson  2 , Robert M Portman  1 , Nikki Carthy  1 , Sam Rowlands  1 , Rachel Batchelor  3 , Laura Kane  1 , Stephanie Kılınç  1
Affiliations

Psychosocial Aspects of the Lived Experience of Long COVID: A Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis of Qualitative Studies

Judith Eberhardt et al. Health Expect. 2024 Oct.

Abstract

Background: Despite increasing recognition of long COVID, the psychosocial impacts of the lived experience on individuals remain underexplored. This systematic review sought to fill this gap by identifying key themes that describe the psychosocial dimensions of long COVID.

Objective: The aim of this study is to identify key themes illustrating the psychosocial aspects of individuals' lived experience of long COVID.

Search strategy: Searches were conducted in multiple databases and grey literature sources for qualitative studies published between November 2019 and June 2024.

Inclusion criteria: Eligible studies involved adult participants self-reporting long COVID. The studies needed to provide qualitative data that could be synthesised thematically.

Data extraction and synthesis: Data extraction and thematic synthesis were conducted by at least two independent reviewers at each stage. Quality appraisal was performed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme tool.

Results: The review included 34 studies. Thematic synthesis yielded five themes: 'Debilitation', 'Uncertainty', 'Sources of Support', 'Meaning Making: Adjusting to a New Normal' and 'Experiences with Healthcare Services'. Individuals with long COVID reported experiencing physical, economic, and social challenges. Uncertainty and scepticism from others caused anxiety. Support from healthcare services, friends and online groups played an important role. Acceptance and gratitude were found to be meaningful in adjusting to the new normal. Experiences with healthcare services varied.

Discussion and conclusions: This review provides valuable insights into the psychosocial impact of long COVID, highlighting the profound changes and challenges that individuals face. Healthcare services should adopt a holistic approach to integrate psychosocial support within their management strategies, to improve overall patient outcomes.

Keywords: lived experience; long COVID; psychosocial; qualitative; thematic synthesis.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
PRISMA flow diagram.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Crook H., Raza S., Nowell J., Young M., and Edison P., “Long Covid—Mechanisms, Risk Factors, and Management,” BMJ 374 (2021): n1648, 10.1136/bmj.n1648. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Fan B. E., Wong S. W., Sum C. L. L., et al., “Hypercoagulability, Endotheliopathy, and Inflammation Approximating 1 Year After Recovery: Assessing the Long‐Term Outcomes in COVID‐19 Patients,” American Journal of Hematology 97, no. 7 (2022): 915–923, 10.1002/ajh.26575. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Marik P. E., Iglesias J., Varon J., and Kory P., “A Scoping Review of the Pathophysiology of COVID‐19,” International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology 35 (2021): 20587384211048026, 10.1177/20587384211048026. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Perego E., Callard F., Stras L., Melville‐Jóhannesson B., Pope R., and Alwan N. A., “Why the Patient‐Made Term ‘Long Covid’ Is Needed,” Wellcome Open Research 5 (2020): 224, 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.16307.1. - DOI
    1. Greenhalgh T., Sivan M., Delaney B., Evans R., and Milne R., “Long Covid—An Update for Primary Care,” BMJ 378 (2022): e072117, 10.1136/bmj-2022-072117. - DOI - PubMed

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources