University of Twente Student Theses
The mental health of young adults in times of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands and its relation to resilience
Ridder, E.Y.G. (2022) The mental health of young adults in times of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands and its relation to resilience.
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| Abstract: | Objective. This study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 restrictions sanctioned by the Dutch government on mental health and mental illness in young adults aged 18-30. The association between resilience and the restrictions on positive mental health and mental illness was also tested. Method. An explorative longitudinal trend study, based on ROM data, was analysed if there were differences in positive mental health, mental illness, and resilience during multiple stadia of the pandemic (pre-COVID-19, mild restrictions, or (partial) lockdown). Statistical analyses were performed in SPSS, using independent sample t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and one-way MANOVA. PROCESS 4.1 was consulted for moderation analyses with covariates. Results. Partial evidence revealed that mental illness was higher for clients seeking mental health treatment during a (partial)lockdown than during mild restrictions or pre-COVID-19. Symptoms of depression and anxiety were significantly higher during a (partial) lockdown than during mild restrictions. Anxiety symptoms and ensuing psychosomatic complaints were higher prior to the pandemic than during a (partial) lockdown. Overall positive mental health did not differ during multiple stadia of the pandemic, although, social communal well-being was significantly higher for clients seeking mental health treatment during a (partial) lockdown compared to clients prior to COVID-19. Resilience was a significant predictor of positive mental health and mental illness. Although, as a moderator for the relationship between the severity of restrictions and mental illness, it only remained significant at low and moderate levels, and as a moderator for positive mental health it was not significant. All effect sizes are small or negligible. Conclusion. It is recommended to facilitate clients with and develop interventions to buffer resilience to protect mental health and diminish mental illness. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 77 psychology |
| Programme: | Psychology MSc (66604) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/90819 |
| Export this item as: | BibTeX EndNote HTML Citation Reference Manager |
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