Mental Health and Quality of Life during COVID-19 Pandemic
Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic precipitated a global rise in anxiety, depression, stress and loneliness, driven by lockdowns, social distancing and economic uncertainty. Disruptions to routine, reduced social support and fear of infection undermined psychological well-being, while altered healthcare delivery challenged management of chronic conditions. Quality of life suffered across physical, psychological, social and environmental domains, with disproportionate effects on younger adults, women and marginalised groups. Emerging research highlights both the widespread burden of mental ill-health and the potential of digital interventions, social support networks and policy measures to bolster resilience. Understanding these dynamics is critical to informing public health strategies, mitigating long-term consequences and promoting recovery on a global scale.
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Mental Health and Quality of Life during COVID-19 Pandemic publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in mental health and quality of life during covid-19 pandemic across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Health-related quality of life (HRQoL): A multidimensional measure of a person’s perceived physical, psychological, social and functional health status.
Quality-adjusted life year (QALY): A metric combining both quantity and quality of life lived, used to assess the burden of disease and value of health interventions.
EQ-5D-5L: A standardised questionnaire assessing five dimensions of health (mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, anxiety/depression) at five levels of severity.
References
- The COVID-19 pandemic and health-related quality of life across 13 high- and low-middle-income countries: A cross-sectional analysis. PLOS Medicine (2023).
- Immunoglobulin Replacement Therapy During COVID-19 Pandemic: Practical and Psychological Impact in Patients with Antibody Deficiency. Journal of Clinical Immunology (2023).
- Health Behaviours and the Quality of Life of Students of Medical Fields during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Nutrients (2024).
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