Post-COVID and Mental Health
Location
Room 217, Schewel Hall
Access Type
Open Access
Entry Number
118
Start Date
4-5-2023 10:00 AM
End Date
4-5-2023 10:15 AM
College
College of Health Sciences
Department
Psychology
Keywords
long COVID, mental health, post-COVID, COVID-19, anxiety, depression, stress
Abstract
Two years after the global pandemic, COVID-19 continues to affect people. Many people experience long COVID, which is when one develops symptoms that linger for months or years after their acute infection. Previous research has found that a wide range of different physical, neurological, and psychological symptoms are present in these long COVID patients. However, there is a lack of research on how the ongoing symptoms affect patients’ mental health, life satisfaction and happiness. This study examines the relationship between cognitive, sensory, and physical symptoms and symptom severity of participants who were at least 4 weeks post-COVID and mental health factors. The presence of physical and cognitive symptoms differentially predicted depression, anxiety and stress. Experiencing ongoing physical symptoms predicting stress and anxiety and experiencing ongoing cognitive symptoms predicting depression. Sensory symptoms were not predictive of any mental health outcomes. Additionally, those who experienced more severity of symptoms overall experienced more depression, anxiety, and stress. Presence of ongoing symptoms and symptom severity did not predict life satisfaction or happiness. These findings suggest that type and severity of symptoms may play a role in patients’ mental health.
Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr. Alisha Marciano
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Post-COVID and Mental Health
Room 217, Schewel Hall
Two years after the global pandemic, COVID-19 continues to affect people. Many people experience long COVID, which is when one develops symptoms that linger for months or years after their acute infection. Previous research has found that a wide range of different physical, neurological, and psychological symptoms are present in these long COVID patients. However, there is a lack of research on how the ongoing symptoms affect patients’ mental health, life satisfaction and happiness. This study examines the relationship between cognitive, sensory, and physical symptoms and symptom severity of participants who were at least 4 weeks post-COVID and mental health factors. The presence of physical and cognitive symptoms differentially predicted depression, anxiety and stress. Experiencing ongoing physical symptoms predicting stress and anxiety and experiencing ongoing cognitive symptoms predicting depression. Sensory symptoms were not predictive of any mental health outcomes. Additionally, those who experienced more severity of symptoms overall experienced more depression, anxiety, and stress. Presence of ongoing symptoms and symptom severity did not predict life satisfaction or happiness. These findings suggest that type and severity of symptoms may play a role in patients’ mental health.