Mental and social wellbeing trajectory during the pandemic for vulnerable populations

Dados Bibliográficos

ID22073242
AutoresAndrew Joyce (0000-0003-0430-2324, Victorian Health Promotion Foundation, autor correspondente), Thach Tran (0000-0002-4686-8601, Monash University), Ruby Stocker (0000-0002-9125-8036, Monash University), Jane Fisher (0000-0002-1959-6807, Monash University)
Ano2024
Volume12
Páginas1337401-1337401
Data de publicação2024-04-08
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoFrontiers in Public Health (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 2296-2565 • E-ISSN: 2296-2565
EditoraFrontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpubh.2024.1337401
PMID38651125
OpenAlexW4394579607
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas2
Referências citadas25

Objectives: We investigated changes over time in mental and social wellbeing indicators for vulnerable population subgroups during the pandemic. These groups were younger people, people with disabilities, low-income groups, unemployed, culturally, and linguistically diverse communities (CaLD), and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Methods: A series of four repeated population representative surveys were conducted in June 2020, September 2020, January 2022, and June 2022. Questions included items on psychological distress, financial hardship, social connection, and life satisfaction. Results: For most groups, social connection and life satisfaction improved in 2022 relative to 2020. Psychological distress and financial hardship showed the opposite pattern, with some groups having worse results in 2022 relative to 2020. People without any vulnerability had better mental health and social wellbeing outcomes at each time point relative to the vulnerable population subgroups. Conclusion: Pandemic-related policies had differential effects over time and for different population groups. Future policies and research need to closely monitor how they impact population subgroups, and the overall results clearly demonstrate the inequity in mental health and social wellbeing outcomes for vulnerable population cohorts

Disease · Mental health · Pandemic · Psychiatry · Trajectory · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Medicine · Mental Health Treatment and Access · Migration, Health and Trauma · Psychology