Introduction
COVID-19 is a highly infectious respiratory illness caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the global workforce, with many countries implementing restrictions to curb the spread of the virus. These restrictions have adversely affected the mental well-being of individuals in the workforce. This study aims to investigate how COVID-19 restrictions have impacted the mental well-being of the workforce from the first lockdown to the present.
Literature Review
Several studies have explored the relationship between COVID-19 restrictions and mental health in the workforce. A longitudinal analysis of data from 15 countries found that policy stringency was associated with decreased mental well-being during the pandemic (Aknin et al., 2022). The study concluded that governments should consider the mental health implications of COVID-19 restrictions when designing policies.
Similarly, O’Connor et al. (2021) found that stressors connected to COVID-19 were linked to higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression in their longitudinal studies of participants in the UK COVID-19 Mental Health & Well-Being research. The study also found that social support and resilience were protective factors against the negative mental health impacts of the pandemic.
Other reviews also found that social support, financial stability, and pre-existing mental health conditions influenced the pandemic’s mental health impacts. The studies evaluated the long-term effects of COVID-19 on mental health (Bourmistrova et al., 2022; Penninx et al., 2022; Singu, 2022; Talevi et al., 2020). The reviews found that the pandemic’s mental health impacts on the workforce were wide-ranging and long-lasting, with anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder being the most common outcomes.
Lades et al. (2020) explored daily emotional well-being during the pandemic. They found that individuals’ positive emotions were reduced, and negative emotions were increased during the first lockdown in the UK. The study concluded that the pandemic’s mental health impacts were significant and long-lasting and that interventions to support mental well-being were needed. The articles emphasized the need for continued interventions to support mental well-being during and after the pandemic.
Discussion
The literature review on the mental health impacts of COVID-19 restrictions on the workforce offers valuable insights into the pandemic’s broader societal implications. The evidence suggests that the pandemic has significantly impacted the workforce’s mental health, with anxiety, depression, and stress as the most common outcomes. However, limitations in the research population and the need for further research to identify other contributing factors are acknowledged. Early interventions are crucial in supporting the mental well-being of children and youth, but there is limited research on effective interventions for these populations.
Governments should take into account the mental health influences of COVID-19 constraints when developing policies and other measures to support mental well-being during and after the pandemic. Still, the effectiveness of such interventions remains to be seen and should be continuously evaluated. The studies reviewed highlight the importance of ongoing support for individuals affected by the pandemic, indicating the need for sustained resources and support beyond the pandemic’s immediate crisis.
Underlying Assumptions
One presumption previously made about the effects of COVID-19 restrictions on the workforce’s mental health is that those with pre-existing mental health conditions are more susceptible to harmful impacts during the pandemic. This notion is reinforced by research showing that individuals with prior mental health issues are more vulnerable to the pandemic’s harmful effects (Bourmistrova et al., 2022; O’Connor et al., 2021).
Another assumption is that the pandemic’s mental health repercussions may persist long after the pandemic has ended and require ongoing support and interventions. This assumption is supported by studies demonstrating that the pandemic’s mental health effects are not limited to its duration (Penninx et al., 2022; Singu, 2022). To enhance mental well-being and overall health outcomes, addressing these factors and providing continued support and interventions to those impacted by the pandemic may be necessary.
Method
Methodology
A quantitative research methodology will be used to collect data for this research. The process involves collecting numerical data that can be analyzed statistically to identify patterns and relationships between variables.
Research Design
The researcher will use a longitudinal design to gather data from the first lockdown to the present. This design will allow data collection at different time points to examine the changes in mental well-being in the workforce as COVID-19 restrictions were implemented and lifted.
Population
The population for this study will be individuals in the workforce whom COVID-19 restrictions have impacted. The sample will be selected using random sampling techniques to ensure that the model is representative of the population. The sample size will depend on the resources available for the study.
Procedure
Data will be collected using a survey questionnaire that includes standardized measures of mental well-being, such as the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), and questions about the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on work and daily life (Rehman et al., 2023). The survey will be administered online to maximize participation and reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. Participants will be asked to complete the study at different times to capture changes in mental well-being over time.
Conclusion
The studies reviewed in this paper suggest that COVID-19 restrictions have had significant and long-lasting impacts on the mental well-being of the workforce. Anxiety, depression, and stress were the most prevalent effects. Policymakers should take into account the mental health consequences of COVID-19 restrictions when creating strategies and measures to promote mental well-being during and following the pandemic.
Ongoing support and interventions may be necessary to address the mental health impacts of the pandemic. The study proposed a longitudinal research design to collect data from the first lockdown to the present, focusing on the workforce. The findings of this study could contribute to the development of effective interventions to support the mental well-being of the workforce during and after the pandemic.
References
Aknin, L. B., Andretti, B., Goldszmidt, R., Helliwell, J. F., Petherick, A., De Neve, J. E., & Zaki, J. (2022). Policy stringency and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal analysis of data from 15 countries. The Lancet Public Health, 7(5), e417-e426. Web.
Bourmistrova, N. W., Solomon, T., Braude, P., Strawbridge, R., & Carter, B. (2022). Long-term effects of COVID-19 on mental health: A systematic review. Journal of affective disorders, 299, 118-125. Web.
Lades, L. K., Laffan, K., Daly, M., & Delaney, L. (2020). Daily emotional wellābeing during the COVIDā19 pandemic. British journal of health psychology, 25(4), 902-911. Web.
O’Connor, R. C., Wetherall, K., Cleare, S., McClelland, H., Melson, A. J., Niedzwiedz, C. L.,… & Robb, K. A. (2021). Mental health and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic: Longitudinal analyses of adults in the UK COVID-19 Mental Health & Wellbeing study. The British journal of psychiatry, 218(6), 326-333. Web.
Penninx, B. W., Benros, M. E., Klein, R. S., & Vinkers, C. H. (2022). How COVID-19 shaped mental health: From infection to pandemic effects. Nature medicine, 28(10), 2027-2037. Web.
Rehman, U., Yıldırım, M., & Shahnawaz, M. G. (2023). A longitudinal study of depression, anxiety, and stress among Indians during COVID-19 pandemic. Psychology, Health & Medicine, 28(1), 60-68. Web.
Singu, S. (2022). Analysis of mental health during COVID-19 pandemic. International Journal of Sustainable Development in Computing Science, 4(3), 41-50.
Talevi, D., Socci, V., Carai, M., Carnaghi, G., Faleri, S., Trebbi, E., & Pacitti, F. (2020). Mental health outcomes of the CoViD-19 pandemic. Rivista di psichiatria, 55(3), 137-144. Web.