University of Twente Student Theses
The toll of stopping the virus: Is severe policy stringency associated with severe mental health? : A systematic review.
Kugai, Sissel T.M.C. (2023) The toll of stopping the virus: Is severe policy stringency associated with severe mental health? : A systematic review.
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| Abstract: | Aim: Health policy measures played an essential role in preventing the spread of COVID-19, but their differing stringencies influenced the general population's mental health to a still unknown extent. Therefore, this systematic review aims to describe the association between the stringency of policy measures and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Four databases were searched in January 2023 for articles investigating the association between policy stringency (OxCGRT), and mental health in the general population, focusing on anxiety, depression, and psychological distress. Articles were synthesized according to the SWiM guidelines. Associations were visualized by effect direction heatmaps, as well as albatross plots. Results: 15 articles, representing 17,144,693 individuals from 75 countries, were included. Most studies investigated the association between policy stringency and depression. Higher policy stringency was associated with higher levels of depression, anxiety, psychological distress, and overall mental health. Two articles found a negative association between policy stringency and depression, and overall mental health. Furthermore, trust in government, and personality traits (extraversion/introversion), seem to moderate the association between policy stringency and mental health. Conclusion: Policy stringency was significantly associated with mental health: Higher stringency was associated with higher levels of anxiety, depression, psychological distress, and overall mental health. |
| 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/94896 |
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