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The COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions to movement and activity implemented in efforts to reduce the spread of the coronavirus has had far- reaching consequences for persons worldwide. For many, this was felt as a direct threat to one’s physical health and short or prolonged periods of illness. For others, the pandemic contributed directly to loss of employment or income and, for those working on the ‘front lines’, was felt as drastic and often stressful changes to the ways in which professional roles were filled. But perhaps the most universally felt consequences of the pandemic were those arising as a result of the diverse array of measures introduced to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. There is accumulating evidence to suggest that the pandemic, and the changes it has brought about to our everyday lives, has had an effect not only on physical, but also mental health, with numerous studies indicating increased rates of psychological distress, anxiety and depression in various population groups. This presentation will present research conducted as part of the the Kako smo? (How are we doing?) project, an omnibus study that aimed to examine the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of people living in Croatia and, more specifically, to examine the ways in which people experienced changes to their ways of life during the pandemic, the degree to which people experienced various sources of stress and the consequences of this stress on mental health. The results of a two-wave online survey, in which over 3500 adults and 780 school-aged children and youth participated, will be reviewed in the context of other international work examining mental health indicators during the pandemic. Of particular focus will be the manner in which changes to daily activities was related to life satisfaction, quality of life and mental well-being. The ongoing research and professional activities of the Kako smo? project will also be discussed. |
