The emotional state of young people in northern Spain after one year and a half of the COVID-19 pandemic

• Naiara Ozamiz-Etxebarria ^[1] ; Maria Dosil-Santamaria ^[1] ; Nahia Idoiaga Mondragon ^[1] ; Maitane Picaza Gorrotxategi ^[1] ; Beatriz Olaya ^[2] ; Javier Santabárbara ^[3]
  1. [1] Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea

     Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea

     Leioa, España

     
  2. [2] Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Ministry of Science and Innovation, 28029 Madrid, Spain; Research, Innovation and Teaching Unit, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Spain
  3. [3] Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Ministry of Science and Innovation, 28029 Madrid, Spain; Department of Microbiology, Pediatrics, Radiology and Public Health, University of Zaragoza, C/Domingo Miral s/n, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; Aragonese Institute of Health Sciences (IIS Aragón), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain

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• Localización: European journal of psychiatry, ISSN 0213-6163, Vol. 37, Nº 2, 2023, págs. 109-116
• Idioma: inglés
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  • Background and objectives Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the young population has been suffering from an accumulation of psychological symptoms in northern Spain. The main objectives of this study were (1) to assess whether psychological symptoms persisted after one year and a half of the COVID-19 pandemic in northern Spain sample of young people, and (2) to analyze whether pandemic-specific variables (having a chronic illness, living with a person who has a chronic illness, having been infected with COVID-19, having a close person who has died or believing that people are respecting the measures imposed) are related to psychological symptomatology.

    Methods Symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression were measured using the Depression and Stress Anxiety Scale-21 (DASS-21). An ad hoc online questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographical information related to chronic illnesses of the participants, living with a chronically ill person, contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19, having people close to them who have died of COVID-19, and their perception of whether or not people respect the health measures.

    Results Young people have suffered higher stress, anxiety, and depression levels than at the beginning of the pandemic.

    Conclusions The present study highlights the importance of addressing young people's mental health, and ensure that future adults emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic in a psychologically strong state.