The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has repeatedly been reported to impair mental health This longitudinal study evaluated mental health at the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic (t1) and 6 months later (t2) in Austria Indicators of mental health were depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), sleep quality (ISI), perceived stress (PSS-10), as well as quality of life (WHO-QOL BREF) and well-being (WHO-5) In total, N = 437 individuals participated in both surveys (52 9% women) The number of participants with clinically relevant depressive, anxiety, or insomnia symptoms did not differ statistically significantly between t1 and t2 (p &gt;= 0 48) The prevalence of moderate or severe (clinically relevant) (1) depressive symptoms changed from 18 3% to 19 7% (p = 0 48), (2) anxiety symptoms from 16 5 to 15 6% (p = 0 67), and insomnia from 14 6 to 15 6% (p = 0 69) from t1 to t2 Bonferroni-corrected t-tests showed that the stress level (PSS-10) decreased, and well-being (WHO-5) increased However, effect sizes do not seem to be clinically relevant (Cohen's d &lt; 0 2) Results suggest that detrimental health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic persisted several months after its outbreak and the end of the lockdown measures, respectively Regarding well-being and stress, there is a slight trend toward improvement
Comparing Mental Health During the COVID-19 Lockdown and 6 Months After the Lockdown in Austria: A Longitudinal Study