Abstract

PATRAO, Ivone et al. COVID-19 virus psychosocial impact: emotions, concerns and needs in a portuguese sample. Psic., Saúde & Doenças [online]. 2020, vol.21, n.3, pp.541-557.  Epub Dec 31, 2020. ISSN 1645-0086.  https://doi.org/10.15309/20psd210301.

The COVID-19 Pandemic, in 2020, had in Portugal an impact on several domains of individuals functioning. It still fairly unknown how individuals experience the emergency state, marked by the lockdown. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the psychosocial impact, throughout the national emergency state, among a sample of portuguese adults. A psychosocial support project was developed throughout the lockdown, due to the Covid-19, called Psiquarenten. An exploratory study was design, which assessed the emotional impact, the concerns, and the needs facing the challenges of lockdown. Overall, 1 698 participants, completed an online protocol, presented six times, for the duration of six consecutive weeks, throughout the emergency state, therefore allowing six cross-sectional, independent samples (unpaired). Considering the overall sample, the main concern was health (57,5%), and the main need was social interaction (54,1%). Comparing the overall six weeks of lockdown, significant differences were observed for anger (X 2df(5) = 15,417; p= 0,017), depression (X 2 df(5) =16,216; p<0,001), anxiety (X 2df(5)=40,685; p<0,001), exhaustion (X 2df(5) =19,578; p=0,036) and the need for psychological support (X 2df(5)=21,932;p<0,001), with women showing a stronger impact than men. The psychosocial negative impact found throughout the emergency state supports the need for further studies regarding mental health, on the pandemic context, to inform and develop psychological interventions that suits the needs and challenges presented, focusing on groups at greater risk at psychosocial level.

Keywords : pandemic; lockdown; psychosocial impact.

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