Australian researchers have confirmed that the blockade is harmful to mental health, according to the new study Conducted by the Australian National University (ANU).
A study focused on Melbourne during the second wave of the blockade found that this approach “had a negative effect” despite the effectiveness of the restrictions in controlling the spread of the CCP virus. [Melbourne residents’] Level of depression and loneliness. “
Withstanding the world’s longest blockade under the authority of Victoria’s Prime Minister Daniel Andrews, Melbourne overcame six blockades in the first two years of the pandemic.
It is estimated that the blockade increased depressive symptoms by about 23% and loneliness by 4%, “the study authors say.
The authors conclude that there is “solid evidence of the short-term mental health effects of COVID-19 lockdown.”
“These results show the importance of the social environment to an individual’s mental health and the need for future research and intervention in this area.”
A team led by ANU researcher James O’Donnell conducted three surveys of Melbourne residents from May to October 2020. This is consistent with the “second wave” and blockade restrictions of the incident from the hotel quarantine in Victoria. Late May 2020..
The second survey was conducted from mid-June to mid-July 2021 and coincided with the time when the restrictions were lifted in early June and the blockade was re-imposed in mid-July.
We examined mental health using the DASS-21 test for both depression and anxiety. Loneliness is tested with answers to a three-item loneliness scale, with questions such as “How often do you feel isolated from others?”, And respondents mostly, sometimes, or often. I need to answer.
The team found higher depression scores in the first and third surveys (both conducted during the blockade), and respondents were classified as mild depression brackets.
By comparison, the second survey, primarily when the restrictions were lifted, had lower depression scores, with respondents averaging less than 1 and leaning towards the normal range. 0-9 for depression..
The level of loneliness was also high in the first and third studies, showing a decrease in levels consistent with the second study of depression.
The team also 2021 European studies An NSW study conducted at the same time as the study showed that the blockade also increased anxiety, but these findings were not observed in the Melbourne study.
In fact, the anxiety score seemed to decrease. From the mild anxiety of Survey 1, both the second and third surveys reach normal levels.
However, researchers argued that this could be due to respondent erosion as the sample size decreased from 3028 to 2034 and 1723 respondents decreased in each subsequent study.
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Marina Chan is based in Melbourne and focuses on Australian news. Contact her at [email protected]