A longitudinal study of risk and protective factors for symptoms of adjustment disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic

• Published in: European journal of psychotraumatology Vol. 15; no. 1; p. 2318944
• Main Authors: Lotzin, Annett, Stahlmann, Katharina, Acquarini, Elena, Ajdukovic, Dean, Ajdukovic, Marina, Anastassiou-Hadjicharalambous, Xenia, Ardino, Vittoria, Bondjers, Kristina, Bragesjö, Maria, Böttche, Maria, Dragan, Małgorzata, Figueiredo-Braga, Margarida, Gelezelyte, Odeta, Grajewski, Piotr, Javakhishvili, Jana Darejan, Kazlauskas, Evaldas, Lenferink, Lonneke, Lioupi, Chrysanthi, Lueger-Schuster, Brigitte, Mooren, Trudy, Sales, Luisa, Tsiskarishvili, Lela, Novakovic, Irina Zrnic, Schäfer, Ingo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis 2024; Taylor & Francis Group
• Subjects: adjustment disorder; Adjustment Disorders; Basic; coronavirus; COVID-19; COVID-19 - epidemiology; Female; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; mental health; pandemic; Pandemics; post-traumatic stress; Protective Factors; risk factors; stress-related disorders; stressors; pandemia; risk factors; factores de riesgo; mental health; trastorno de adaptación; coronavirus; factores estresantes; protective factors; salud mental; pandemic; stressors; COVID-19; stress-related disorders; adjustment disorder; estrés postraumático; factores protectores; post-traumatic stress; trastornos relacionados con el estrés
• ISSN: 2000-8066; 2000-8198; 2000-8066
• DOI: 10.1080/20008066.2024.2318944

The COVID-19 pandemic caused multiple stressors that may lead to symptoms of adjustment disorder. We longitudinally examined relationships between risk and protective factors, pandemic-related stressors and symptoms of adjustment disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as whether these relationships differed by the time of assessment. The European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ESTSS) ADJUST Study included = 15,169 participants aged 18 years and above. Participants from 11 European countries were recruited and screened three times at 6-month intervals from June 2020 to January 2022. Associations between risk and protective factors (e.g. gender), stressors (e.g. fear of infection), and symptoms of adjustment disorder (AjD, ADNM-8) and their interaction with time of assessment were examined using mixed linear regression. The following predictors were significantly associated with higher AjD symptom levels: female or diverse gender; older age; pandemic-related news consumption >30 min a day; a current or previous mental health disorder; trauma exposure before or during the pandemic; a good, satisfactory or poor health status (vs. very good); burden related to governmental crisis management and communication; fear of infection; restricted social contact; work-related problems; restricted activity; and difficult housing conditions. The following predictors were associated with lower AjD levels: self-employment or retirement; working in healthcare; and face-to-face contact ≥ once a week with loved ones or friends. The effects of the following predictors on AjD symptoms differed by the time of assessment in the course of the pandemic: a current or previous mental disorder; burden related to governmental crisis management; income reduction; and a current trauma exposure. We identified risk factors and stressors predicting AjD symptom levels at different stages of the pandemic. For some predictors, the effects on mental health may change at different stages of a pandemic.