Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic and Earthquake on the Mental Health of Adults in Croatia

Dunja Juric Vukelic; Lovorka Brajkovic; Vanja Kopilas

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajap.20221102.13

| Peer-Reviewed

Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic and Earthquake on the Mental Health of Adults in Croatia

Dunja Juric Vukelic, Lovorka Brajkovic, Vanja Kopilas

Published in American Journal of Applied Psychology (Volume 11, Issue 2)

Received: 28 March 2022 Accepted: 12 April 2022 Published: 20 April 2022

Views: Downloads:

Download PDF

Share This Article

Twitter
Linked In
Facebook

Abstract

Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, research around the world has found that psychophysical health has been affected: elevated levels of depression, anxiety, stress and trauma due to social isolation, economic instability, and restrictions on previously common daily activities. In the world population, loneliness is continuously increasing, as well as economic stressors. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020., Croatia was hit by a series of devastating earthquakes in which thousands of people were temporarily or permanently homeless. The aim of this study was to examine the role of the coronavirus pandemic and earthquake on mental health, life satisfaction, psychological resilience and social support, and the severity of psychopathological symptoms in adults in Croatia. The study involved 562 participants from all counties in Croatia, who voluntarily entered study that consisted of: Questionnaire for testing general psychopathological difficulties CORE-OM, Short Resilience Scale, Short Mental Health Questionnaire, Social support scale and Life satisfaction measured in one particle. Research has shown a high level of psychopathological symptoms and a low level of mental health. Participants rated social support as high. Lower levels of mental health and lower life satisfaction were associated with a higher degree of pandemic and earthquake impact on life, and a higher degree of pandemic impact on life correlated with severity of psychopathological difficulties. Participants were asked two open-ended questions. One was about the most difficult for them during the pandemic and lockdown, and other one was asking what made the pandemic and lockdown period easier for them. The most significant stressors were social isolation, uncertainty, anxiety, fear of infection, challenges, and limitations of working from home and online classes, loosing job threats and financial insecurity, and excessive exposure to information about the pandemic, and protective factors include family and social support. The level of psychological difficulties confirmed by this research is worrying and indicates the need to develop effective ways to actively deal with the pandemic and all its implications on life.

Published in	American Journal of Applied Psychology (Volume 11, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.ajap.20221102.13
Page(s)	62-69
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Mental Health, Life Satisfaction, Resilience, Social Support, COVID-19, Earthquake

References

[1]	Kumar, A., & Nayar, K. R. (2021). COVID 19 and its mental health consequences. Journal of Mental Health, 30 (1), 1-2. doi: 10.1080/09638237.2020.1757052.
[2]	Ravens-Sieberer, U., Kaman, A., Erhart, M., Devine, J., Schlack, R., & Otto, C. (2021). Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on quality of life and mental health in children and adolescents in Germany. European child and adolescent psychiatry, 1-11. doi: 10.1007/s00787-021-01726-5.
[3]	Boden, M., Zimmerman, L., Azevedo, K. J., Ruzek, J. I., Gala, S., Magid, H. S. A., Cohen, N., Wasler, R., Mahtani, N. D., Hoggatt, K. J. & McLean, C. P. (2021). Addressing the mental health impact of COVID-19 through population health. Clinical psychology review, 102006. doi: 10.1016/j.cpr.2021.102006.
[4]	Balogh, Z. J., Way, T. L., & Hoswell, R. L. (2020). The epidemiology of trauma during a pandemic. Injury, 51 (6), 1243-1244. doi: 10.1016/j.injury.2020.05.039.
[5]	Ustun, G. (2021). Determining depression and related factors in a society affected by COVID-19 pandemic. The International journal of social psychiatry, 67 (1), 54 – 63. doi: 10.1177/0020764020938807.
[6]	Waite, P., Pearcey, S., Shum, A., Raw, J., Patalay, P., & Creswell, C. (2021). How did the mental health of children and adolescents change during early lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK? Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry Advances, 1 (1), e12009. doi: 10.1111/jcv2.12009.
[7]	McKinlay, A. R., May, T., Dawes, J., Fancourt, D., & Burton, A. (2022). You're just there, alone in your room with your thoughts: A qualitative study about the impact of lockdown among young people during the COVID-19 pandemic. British Medical Journal Open, 12 (2), e053676. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-053676.
[8]	Bu, F., Steptoe, A., & Fancourt, D. (2020). Loneliness during a strict lockdown: Trajectories and predictors during the COVID-19 pandemic in 38,217 United Kingdom adults. Social Science & Medicine, 265, 113521. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113521.
[9]	Kasar, K. S., & Karaman, E. (2021). Life in lockdown: Social isolation, loneliness and quality of life in the elderly during the COVİD-19 pandemic: A scoping review. Geriatric Nursing, 42 (5), 1222-1229. doi: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2021.03.010.
[10]	Thyrian, J. R., Kracht, F., Nikelski, A., Boekholt, M., Schumacher-Schönert, F., Rädke, A., Michalowsky, B., Vollmar, H. C., Hoffmann, W., Rodriguez, F. S., and Kreisel, S. H. (2020). The situation of elderly with cognitive impairment living at home during lockdown in the Corona-pandemic in Germany. BMC geriatrics, 20 (1), 540. doi: 10.1186/s12877-020-01957-2.
[11]	Cao, W., Fang, Z., Hou, G., Han, M., Xu, X., Dong, J., and Zheng, J. (2020). The psychological impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on college students in China. Psychiatry Research, 287, 112934. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2020.112934.
[12]	Ihm, L., Zhang, H., van Vijfeijken, A., Waugh, M. G. (2021). Impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on the health of university students. International Journal of Health Plann Manage, 36 (3), 618-627. doi: 10.1002/hpm.3145.
[13]	Son, C., Hegde, S., Smith, A., Wang, X., and Sasangohar, F. (2020). Effects of COVID-19 on College Students' Mental Health in the United States: Interview Survey Study. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 22 (9), e21279. doi: 10.2196/21279.
[14]	Schiff, M., Zasiekina, L., Pat-Horenczyk, R., and Benbenishty, R. (2021). COVID-Related Functional Difficulties and Concerns Among University Students During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Binational Perspective. Journal of Community Health, 46 (4), 667-675. doi: 10.1007/s10900-020-00930-9.
[15]	Rogers, J. P., Chesney, E., Oliver, D., Pollak, T. A., McGuire, P., Fusar-Poli, P., et al. (2020). Psychiatric and neuropsychiatric presentations associated with severe coronavirus infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis with comparison to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lancet Psychiatry 7, 611–627. doi: 10.1016/S2215-0366(20)30203-0.
[16]	Leigh-Hunt, N., Bagguley, D., Bash, K., Turner, V., Turnbull, S., Valtorta, and Caan, W. (2017). An overview of systematic reviews on the public health consequences of social isolation and loneliness. Public Health 152, 157–171. doi: 10.1016/j.puhe.2017.07.035.
[17]	Brooks, S. K., Webster, R. K., Smith, L. E., Woodland, L., Wessely, S., and Greenberg, N. (2020). The psychological impact of quarantine and how to reduce it: rapid review of the evidence. Lancet 395, 912–920. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30460-8.
[18]	Durosini, I., Triberti, S., Savioni, L., and Pravettoni, G. (2021). In the eye of a quiet storm: a critical incident study on the quarantine experience during the coronavirus pandemic. PLoS One 16: e0247121. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0247121.
[19]	Sebri, V., Cincidda, C., Savioni, L., Ongaro, G., and Pravettoni, G. (2021). Worry during the initial height of the COVID-19 crisis in an Italian sample. Journal of Gen. Psychol, 148, 327–359. doi: 10.1080/00221309.2021.1878485.
[20]	Hill, Y., Den Hartigh, R. J. R., Meijer, R. R., De Jonge, P., Van Yperen, N. W. (2018). The Temporal Process of Resilience. Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, 7 (4), 363–370. https://doi.org/10.1037/spy0000143.
[21]	Luthar, S., Cicchetti, D., & Becker, B. (2000). The construct of resilience: A critical evaluation and guidelines for future work. Child Development, 71 (3), 543–56.
[22]	Blackmon, B. J., Lee, J., Cochran, D. M., Kar, B., Rehner, T. A., & Baker, A. M. (2017). Adapting to life after hurricane Katrina and the deep-water horizon oil spill: An examination of psychological resilience and depression on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Social Work Public Health, 32 (1), 65–76.
[23]	Osofsky, H. J., Osofsky, J. D., & Hansel, T. C. (2011). Deepwater horizon oil spill: Mental health effects on residents in heavily affected areas. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, 5 (4), 280–286.
[24]	Arslan, G. (2019). Mediating role of the self–esteem and resilience in the association between social exclusion and life satisfaction among adolescents. Personality and Individual Differences, 151 (109514), 1–6.
[25]	Prime, H., Wade, M., & Browne, D. (2020). Risk and resilience in family well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. American Psychologist, 75 (5), 631–643.
[26]	Killgore, W. D. S., Taylor, E. C., Cloonan, S. A., & Dailey, N. S. (2020). Psychological resilience during the COVID-19 lockdown. Psychiatry Research, 29 (1), 1–2 113216.
[27]	Southwick, S. M., and Charneyn D. S. (2012). The science of resilience: implications for the prevention and treatment of depression. Science, 338, 79–82.
[28]	Ong, A. D., Bergeman, C. S., Bisconti, T. L., and Wallace, K. A. (2006). Psychological resilience, positive emotions, and successful adaptation to stress in later life. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 91, 730–49.
[29]	Sapienza, J. K., and Masten, A. S. (2011). Understanding and promoting resilience in children and youth. Current Opinion Psychiatry, 24, 267–73. doi: 10.1097/YCO.0b013e32834776a8.
[30]	Mestre, J. M., Nunez-Lozano, J. M., Gomez-Molinero, R., Zayas, A., and Guil, R. (2017). Emotion regulation ability and resilience in a sample of adolescents from a suburban area. Frontiers Psychology, 8, 1980. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01980.
[31]	Campbell-Sills, L., Cohan, S. L., Stein, M. B. (2006). Relationship of resilience to personality, coping, and psychiatric symptoms in young adults. Behavior Research Therapy, 44, 585–99.
[32]	Bočić, N. (2021). Strukturno-geomorfološki aspekti petrinjskog potresa M6. 2 (Hrvatska)–preliminarna razmatranja. Hrvatski geografski glasnik, 83 (1), 5-24.
[33]	Dasović, I., Herak, D., Herak, M., Latečki, H., Mustać, M., & Tomljenović, B. (2020). O potresima u Hrvatskoj. Vijesti Hrvatskoga geološkog društva, 57 (1), 4-27.
[34]	Thapa, P., Acharya, L., Bhatta, B. D., Paneru, S. B., Khattri, J. B., Chakraborty, P. K., Sharma, R. (2018). Anxiety, Depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after Earthquake. Journal of Nepal Health Research Council, 16, 53-57.
[35]	Ando, S., Kuwabara, H., Araki, T., Kanehara, A., Tanaka, S., Morishima, R., Kondo, S., and Kasai, K. (2017). Mental Health Problems in a Community After the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011: A Systematic Review. Harv Rev Psychiatry, 25, 15-28.
[36]	Peitl, V., Zatezalo, V. G., & Karlović, D. (2020). Mental health issues and psychological crisis interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic and earthquakes in Croatia. Arch Psychiatry Res, 56 (2), 193-198. doi.org/10.20471/dec.2020.56.02.07.
[37]	Evans, C., Connell, J., Barkham, M., Margison, F., McGrath, G. R., Mellor-Clark, J., and Audin, K. (2002). Towards a standardised brief outcome measure: Psychometric properties and utility of the CORE–OM. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 180 (1), 51-60.
[38]	Smith, B. W., Dalen, J., Wiggins, K., Tooley, E., Christopher, P., & Bernard, J. (2008). The brief resilience scale: assessing the ability to bounce back. International journal of behavioral medicine, 15 (3), 194-200.
[39]	Berwick, D. M., Murphy, J. M., Goldman, P. A., Ware, Jr. J. E., Barsky, A. J., & Weinstein, M. C. (1991). Performance of a Five-Item Mental Health Screening Test. Medical Care, 29 (2), 169-176.
[40]	Abbey, A., Abramis, D. J. i Caplan, R. D. (1985). Effects of different sources of social support and social conflict on emotional well-being. Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 6, 111-129.
[41]	Lauri Korajlija, A., Mihaljević, I., & Jokić-Begić, N. (2019). Mjerenje zadovoljstva životom jednom česticom. Socijalna psihijatrija, 47 (4), 449-469.
[42]	Surya, M., Jaff, D., Stilwell, B., Schubert, J. (2017). The importance of mental well-being for health professionals during complex emergencies: It is time we take it seriously. Global Health: Science and Practice, 5 (2), 188-196.
[43]	Folkman, S., Greer, S. (2000). Promoting psychological well-being in the face of serious illness: When theory, research and practice inform each other. Psychooncology, 9 (1), 11-19.
[44]	Maunder, R., Hunter, J., Vicent, L., Bennett, J., Peladeau, N., Leszcz, M., Sadavoy, J., Verhaeghe, L. M., Steinberg, R., and Mazzulli, T. (2003). The immediate psychological and occupational impact of the 2003 SARS outbreak in a teaching hospital. CMAJ, 168 (10), 1245-1251.
[45]	Satici, B., Saricali, M., Satici, S. A., Griffiths, M. (2020). Intolerance of uncertainty and mental wellbeing: Serial mediation by rumination and fear of COVID-19. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 15, 1-12. doi: 10.1007/s11469-020-00305-0.
[46]	Hwang, T. J., Rabheru, K., Peisah, C., Reichman, W., & Ikeda, M. (2020). Loneliness and social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. International psychogeriatrics, 32 (10), 1217-1220.
[47]	Palgi, Y., Shrira, A., Ring, L., Bodner, E., Avidor, S., Bergman, Y., Cohen-Fridel, S., Keisari, S., & Hoffman, Y. (2020). The loneliness pandemic: Loneliness and other concomitants of depression, anxiety and their comorbidity during the COVID-19 outbreak. Journal of affective disorders, 275, 109-111. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.06.036.
[48]	Gilligan, M., Suitor, J. J., Rurka, M., & Silverstein, M. (2020). Multigenerational social support in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Family Theory & Review, 12 (4), 431-447.
[49]	Salari N, Hosseinian-Far A, Jalali R, Vaisi-Raygani A, Rasoulpoor S, Mohammadi M, Rasoulpoor S, Khaledi-Paveh B. (2020). Prevalence of stress, anxiety, depression among the general population during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Global Health, 16 (1), 57.
[50]	Blanc, J., Rahill, G. J., Laconi, S., Mouchenik, Y. (2016). Religious Beliefs, PTSD, Depression and Resilience in Survivors of the 2010 Haiti Earthquake. Journal of Affective Disorder, 190, 697–703.
[51]	Osofsky, H. J., and Osofsky, J. D. (2013). Hurricane Katrina and the Gulf oil spill: lessons learned. Psychiatr Clin North America, 36 (3), 371-383. doi: 10.1016/j.psc.2013.05.009.
[52]	Kim-Cohen, J. (2007). Resilience and developmental psychopathology. Child and Adolescent Psychiatr Clin N America, 16 (2), 271-83.
[53]	Usher, K., Bhullar, N., Durkin, J., Gyamfi, N., & Jackson, D. (2020). Family violence and COVID-19: Increased vulnerability and reduced options for support. International journal of mental health nursing, 29 (4), 549-552. doi: 10.1111/inm.12735.
[54]	Mariani, R., Renzi, A., Di Trani, M., Trabucchi, G., Danskin, K., & Tambelli, R. (2020). The impact of coping strategies and perceived family support on depressive and anxious symptomatology during the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) lockdown. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11, 1195.

Cite This Article

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Dunja Juric Vukelic, Lovorka Brajkovic, Vanja Kopilas. (2022). Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic and Earthquake on the Mental Health of Adults in Croatia. American Journal of Applied Psychology, 11(2), 62-69. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20221102.13

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Dunja Juric Vukelic; Lovorka Brajkovic; Vanja Kopilas. Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic and Earthquake on the Mental Health of Adults in Croatia. Am. J. Appl. Psychol. 2022, 11(2), 62-69. doi: 10.11648/j.ajap.20221102.13

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Dunja Juric Vukelic, Lovorka Brajkovic, Vanja Kopilas. Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic and Earthquake on the Mental Health of Adults in Croatia. Am J Appl Psychol. 2022;11(2):62-69. doi: 10.11648/j.ajap.20221102.13

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ajap.20221102.13,
  author = {Dunja Juric Vukelic and Lovorka Brajkovic and Vanja Kopilas},
  title = {Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic and Earthquake on the Mental Health of Adults in Croatia},
  journal = {American Journal of Applied Psychology},
  volume = {11},
  number = {2},
  pages = {62-69},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajap.20221102.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20221102.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajap.20221102.13},
  abstract = {Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, research around the world has found that psychophysical health has been affected: elevated levels of depression, anxiety, stress and trauma due to social isolation, economic instability, and restrictions on previously common daily activities. In the world population, loneliness is continuously increasing, as well as economic stressors. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020., Croatia was hit by a series of devastating earthquakes in which thousands of people were temporarily or permanently homeless. The aim of this study was to examine the role of the coronavirus pandemic and earthquake on mental health, life satisfaction, psychological resilience and social support, and the severity of psychopathological symptoms in adults in Croatia. The study involved 562 participants from all counties in Croatia, who voluntarily entered study that consisted of: Questionnaire for testing general psychopathological difficulties CORE-OM, Short Resilience Scale, Short Mental Health Questionnaire, Social support scale and Life satisfaction measured in one particle. Research has shown a high level of psychopathological symptoms and a low level of mental health. Participants rated social support as high. Lower levels of mental health and lower life satisfaction were associated with a higher degree of pandemic and earthquake impact on life, and a higher degree of pandemic impact on life correlated with severity of psychopathological difficulties. Participants were asked two open-ended questions. One was about the most difficult for them during the pandemic and lockdown, and other one was asking what made the pandemic and lockdown period easier for them. The most significant stressors were social isolation, uncertainty, anxiety, fear of infection, challenges, and limitations of working from home and online classes, loosing job threats and financial insecurity, and excessive exposure to information about the pandemic, and protective factors include family and social support. The level of psychological difficulties confirmed by this research is worrying and indicates the need to develop effective ways to actively deal with the pandemic and all its implications on life.},
 year = {2022}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic and Earthquake on the Mental Health of Adults in Croatia
AU  - Dunja Juric Vukelic
AU  - Lovorka Brajkovic
AU  - Vanja Kopilas
Y1  - 2022/04/20
PY  - 2022
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20221102.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajap.20221102.13
T2  - American Journal of Applied Psychology
JF  - American Journal of Applied Psychology
JO  - American Journal of Applied Psychology
SP  - 62
EP  - 69
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-5672
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20221102.13
AB  - Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, research around the world has found that psychophysical health has been affected: elevated levels of depression, anxiety, stress and trauma due to social isolation, economic instability, and restrictions on previously common daily activities. In the world population, loneliness is continuously increasing, as well as economic stressors. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020., Croatia was hit by a series of devastating earthquakes in which thousands of people were temporarily or permanently homeless. The aim of this study was to examine the role of the coronavirus pandemic and earthquake on mental health, life satisfaction, psychological resilience and social support, and the severity of psychopathological symptoms in adults in Croatia. The study involved 562 participants from all counties in Croatia, who voluntarily entered study that consisted of: Questionnaire for testing general psychopathological difficulties CORE-OM, Short Resilience Scale, Short Mental Health Questionnaire, Social support scale and Life satisfaction measured in one particle. Research has shown a high level of psychopathological symptoms and a low level of mental health. Participants rated social support as high. Lower levels of mental health and lower life satisfaction were associated with a higher degree of pandemic and earthquake impact on life, and a higher degree of pandemic impact on life correlated with severity of psychopathological difficulties. Participants were asked two open-ended questions. One was about the most difficult for them during the pandemic and lockdown, and other one was asking what made the pandemic and lockdown period easier for them. The most significant stressors were social isolation, uncertainty, anxiety, fear of infection, challenges, and limitations of working from home and online classes, loosing job threats and financial insecurity, and excessive exposure to information about the pandemic, and protective factors include family and social support. The level of psychological difficulties confirmed by this research is worrying and indicates the need to develop effective ways to actively deal with the pandemic and all its implications on life.
VL  - 11
IS  - 2
ER  -

Copy | Download

Author Information

Dunja Juric Vukelic

Faculty of Croatian Studies, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Lovorka Brajkovic

Faculty of Croatian Studies, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Vanja Kopilas

Faculty of Croatian Studies, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

Download PDF

Sections

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Dunja Juric Vukelic, Lovorka Brajkovic, Vanja Kopilas. (2022). Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic and Earthquake on the Mental Health of Adults in Croatia. American Journal of Applied Psychology, 11(2), 62-69. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20221102.13

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Dunja Juric Vukelic; Lovorka Brajkovic; Vanja Kopilas. Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic and Earthquake on the Mental Health of Adults in Croatia. Am. J. Appl. Psychol. 2022, 11(2), 62-69. doi: 10.11648/j.ajap.20221102.13

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Dunja Juric Vukelic, Lovorka Brajkovic, Vanja Kopilas. Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic and Earthquake on the Mental Health of Adults in Croatia. Am J Appl Psychol. 2022;11(2):62-69. doi: 10.11648/j.ajap.20221102.13

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ajap.20221102.13,
  author = {Dunja Juric Vukelic and Lovorka Brajkovic and Vanja Kopilas},
  title = {Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic and Earthquake on the Mental Health of Adults in Croatia},
  journal = {American Journal of Applied Psychology},
  volume = {11},
  number = {2},
  pages = {62-69},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajap.20221102.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20221102.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajap.20221102.13},
  abstract = {Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, research around the world has found that psychophysical health has been affected: elevated levels of depression, anxiety, stress and trauma due to social isolation, economic instability, and restrictions on previously common daily activities. In the world population, loneliness is continuously increasing, as well as economic stressors. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020., Croatia was hit by a series of devastating earthquakes in which thousands of people were temporarily or permanently homeless. The aim of this study was to examine the role of the coronavirus pandemic and earthquake on mental health, life satisfaction, psychological resilience and social support, and the severity of psychopathological symptoms in adults in Croatia. The study involved 562 participants from all counties in Croatia, who voluntarily entered study that consisted of: Questionnaire for testing general psychopathological difficulties CORE-OM, Short Resilience Scale, Short Mental Health Questionnaire, Social support scale and Life satisfaction measured in one particle. Research has shown a high level of psychopathological symptoms and a low level of mental health. Participants rated social support as high. Lower levels of mental health and lower life satisfaction were associated with a higher degree of pandemic and earthquake impact on life, and a higher degree of pandemic impact on life correlated with severity of psychopathological difficulties. Participants were asked two open-ended questions. One was about the most difficult for them during the pandemic and lockdown, and other one was asking what made the pandemic and lockdown period easier for them. The most significant stressors were social isolation, uncertainty, anxiety, fear of infection, challenges, and limitations of working from home and online classes, loosing job threats and financial insecurity, and excessive exposure to information about the pandemic, and protective factors include family and social support. The level of psychological difficulties confirmed by this research is worrying and indicates the need to develop effective ways to actively deal with the pandemic and all its implications on life.},
 year = {2022}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic and Earthquake on the Mental Health of Adults in Croatia
AU  - Dunja Juric Vukelic
AU  - Lovorka Brajkovic
AU  - Vanja Kopilas
Y1  - 2022/04/20
PY  - 2022
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20221102.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajap.20221102.13
T2  - American Journal of Applied Psychology
JF  - American Journal of Applied Psychology
JO  - American Journal of Applied Psychology
SP  - 62
EP  - 69
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-5672
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20221102.13
AB  - Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, research around the world has found that psychophysical health has been affected: elevated levels of depression, anxiety, stress and trauma due to social isolation, economic instability, and restrictions on previously common daily activities. In the world population, loneliness is continuously increasing, as well as economic stressors. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020., Croatia was hit by a series of devastating earthquakes in which thousands of people were temporarily or permanently homeless. The aim of this study was to examine the role of the coronavirus pandemic and earthquake on mental health, life satisfaction, psychological resilience and social support, and the severity of psychopathological symptoms in adults in Croatia. The study involved 562 participants from all counties in Croatia, who voluntarily entered study that consisted of: Questionnaire for testing general psychopathological difficulties CORE-OM, Short Resilience Scale, Short Mental Health Questionnaire, Social support scale and Life satisfaction measured in one particle. Research has shown a high level of psychopathological symptoms and a low level of mental health. Participants rated social support as high. Lower levels of mental health and lower life satisfaction were associated with a higher degree of pandemic and earthquake impact on life, and a higher degree of pandemic impact on life correlated with severity of psychopathological difficulties. Participants were asked two open-ended questions. One was about the most difficult for them during the pandemic and lockdown, and other one was asking what made the pandemic and lockdown period easier for them. The most significant stressors were social isolation, uncertainty, anxiety, fear of infection, challenges, and limitations of working from home and online classes, loosing job threats and financial insecurity, and excessive exposure to information about the pandemic, and protective factors include family and social support. The level of psychological difficulties confirmed by this research is worrying and indicates the need to develop effective ways to actively deal with the pandemic and all its implications on life.
VL  - 11
IS  - 2
ER  -

Copy | Download