VU Researchers Found How the Beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic Affected Lithuanians’ Psychological Well-being

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world has faced not only exceptional health or economic challenges, but also psychological challenges. In response, the researchers of the Centre for Psychotraumatology of Vilnius University (VU), led by Prof Evaldas Kazlauskas, developed research-based recommendations on how to take care of your mental health during the pandemic.

According to the researchers, although the effects of the pandemic are felt all over the world, the challenges it poses affect everyone differently. Therefore, the researchers have developed recommendations not only for the general public, but also for its individual groups: universities and students, researchers, medical institutions and medical staff, schools and students.

Uncertainty is the most damaging condition for Lithuanians

Psychologists acknowledge that the coronavirus crisis has been stressful for everyone. For example, constant fear of getting infected with the virus, changes in life, uncertainty about the future, restriction of contact with other people, loss of loved ones. Although all of these feelings are natural during difficult times, it is believed that some individuals, when facing the challenges posed by the virus, can have serious psychological problems.

In the summer of 2020, the researchers of the Centre for Psychotraumatology of VU started conducting the Lithuanian psychological health study “My well-being”. The study was conducted in eleven different countries and aimed to find out how the coronavirus crisis also affected the well-being of Lithuanians. Up to 60% of the study participants reported being moderately or severely affected by uncertainty about the duration of the pandemic and the risks it posed. 37% of the respondents were negatively affected by the fear of being infected, and 56% of the study participants felt quite strongly affected by fears that their loved ones would become infected.

“It is the difficulty of adaptation or even the increased risk of maladaptation during the COVID-19 pandemic that poses significant psychological health challenges for people. Adaptation difficulties can be experienced in response to significant life events or changes, the so-called stressors. These adaptation problems are manifested in constant concern about the stressful situation and difficulties in adapting to the changes that have taken place,” Dr Odeta Geležėlytė, the researcher of the Center for Psychotraumatology of VU, says.

The restrictions imposed have a particularly significant impact on young people

At the onset of 2020, many previously contact activities moved to the virtual space to control the spread of coronavirus. The same happened with studies that university students had to pursue remotely. Therefore, in their study, VU researchers decided to take a closer look at the experiences of young adults.

“During the study, we interviewed 498 VU students and assessed their stressful experiences related to the COVID-19 pandemic and other mental health indicators. It turned out that more than half of the university students were negatively affected by the changed study process and limited mobility. Slightly more than a quarter indicated that they had experienced great stress due to limited access to various services,” Dr Inga Truskauskaitė-Kunevičienė, one of the VU researchers conducting the study, says.

Although technology is no stranger to the younger generation, the process of study that has moved to the virtual space has had a significant impact on the mental health of young people. According to the researchers, this is also related to the lack of proper preparation for these changes.

“No one expected such wide-ranging restrictions, so neither universities, nor lecturers, nor students themselves were prepared for a sudden pandemic. There was a lot of uncertainty and confusion at the beginning, and it’s important to mention that we had not been used to spending so much time at screens before. Although the virus is relatively less dangerous to the health of young people, it is they who may be most affected by the restrictions imposed by the pandemic,” Dr I. Truskauskaitė-Kunevičienė says.

According to psychologists, even outside the crisis, changes such as a change in the normal environment, encounters with new people, and the loss of former connections pose great stress to young people. As a result, young people experience more mental difficulties during their studies, such as depression, anxiety, and an increased risk of suicide. Although the study by the VU researchers showed that students are accompanied by a great deal of loneliness during the pandemic, which may lead to the deterioration in mental health in the future, the negative consequences are still faced by individuals who were at risk before the pandemic.

“The study found that students whose mental health was good enough before the pandemic did not experience major negative mental health changes at the beginning of its first wave. However, those who were characterized by relatively high levels of depression, anxiety and stress before the pandemic experienced this period much more difficult – the symptoms of depression intensified and psychological well-being decreased significantly,” the member of the VU research team says.

There has been an increase in the number of teenagers experiencing severe psychological difficulties

Similar challenges posed by the quarantine restrictions and distance learning have faced not only universities but also school communities. In October 2020, a survey of 13–18-year-olds by the researchers at the VU Centre for Psychotraumatology revealed that as many as 4 out of 5 respondents had learning difficulties due to the pandemic, more than half said they had difficulty communicating with peers, and about 1 in 4 respondents said they had family problems.

“We have noticed a significant increase in the number of teenagers experiencing severe psychosocial difficulties during the pandemic. Prior to the pandemic, approximately 1 in 7 teenagers experienced such difficulties, and during the pandemic, these difficulties are faced by 1 in 5 teenagers. Social support would help to overcome the emerging difficulties, but up to 19.3% of the respondents indicated that they had no one to turn to for help. Thus, a large part of Lithuanian teenagers feel forced to solve problems independently,” Ieva Daniūnaitė, a psychologist and a member of the Centre for Psychotraumatology of VU, says.

Psychologists point out that the psychological well-being of children and teenagers also depends on the well-being of parents or guardians and the situation in the family, which can also be unstable and vulnerable during the pandemic. Therefore, in difficult times, the role of school is particularly important for vulnerable, struggling children and teenagers. In times of crisis, the school and its professionals can be a significant source of stability, social contact and support for pupils.

A large number of physicians thought about changing their profession

VU researchers also took part in the research of employees of medical institutions, whose working conditions during the pandemic are extremely difficult. Immediate health risks, ever-increasing demands, and staff shortages have all become part of the daily routine of medical workers, significantly increasing the risks of burnout, depression and anxiety.

“According to a study conducted in March-April 2020, a large proportion of intensive care unit staff experienced moderate to severe stress, anxiety, and depression. More than a quarter of the respondents working in Lithuanian medical institutions experienced a constant fear of becoming infected or transmitting the infection to their relatives. As much as 43% of the respondents at the beginning of the pandemic thought about changing profession. It is also worrying that up to 22.7% of the respondents chose alcohol to overcome the stress experienced at work and only 8% addressed specialists for help,” Dr Ieva Norkienė, one of the VU researchers conducting the study, says.

4-5 months after the onset of the pandemic, VU researchers conducted repeated studies. Their results revealed growing stress reactions and anxiety experienced by medical staff, despite the fact that the pandemic wave decreased in the summer and quarantine restrictions were eased. During the same period, the researchers also interviewed staff from medical facilities in the United Kingdom (UK). It turned out that despite the higher number of patients in the country and the higher mortality of patients, the level of anxiety and depression of medical staff in the UK was lower than in Lithuania.

“During the pandemic, UK professionals had significantly more access to psychological help, and hospitals had systematic strategies for managing work-related stress. Studies in various countries show that providing psychological assistance to medical staff increases their resilience to stress and reduces anxiety levels. The consequences of psychological difficulties experienced by doctors can be very different - extreme fatigue and burnout can lead to even more pronounced psychological problems, as well as physical illnesses,” Dr Ieva Norkienė says.

According to VU researchers, in order to reduce the stress experienced by medical staff, it is necessary for institutions to organize work taking into account the physical and emotional abilities of specialists, and it is no less important to create an emotionally healthy work environment. Employees are advised to accept the emotions they feel, to learn to say 'no' to excessive demands, to maintain social connections, to take care of emotional health and not to forget about physical activity.

The research was performed and recommendations were prepared by the researchers of the VU Psychotraumatology Centre Prof Dr Evaldas Kazlauskas, Dr Odeta Geležėlytė, Dr Inga Truskauskaitė-Kunevičienė, Accoc Prof Dr Ieva Norkienė, Dr Monika Kvedaraitė, Dr Ieva Daniūnaitė. The study was funded by the Research Council of Lithuania, the project title “Psychosocial Stress Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic and Research-Based Coping Recommendations”.