Resilient outcomes in people with a history of mental disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic: an international 2-years longitudinal prospective study

Abstract

BackgroundDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, the global population was exposed to a significant psychological stress, which had an impact on the mental health in individuals with pre-existing mental disorders. Despite their heightened vulnerability, subgroups within this population demonstrated resilient outcomes throughout the pandemic. This study aims to identify predictors of long-term, sustained resilient outcomes among people with a history of mental disorder during the first two years of the pandemic.MethodsIn this international 2-year, 5-wave longitudinal online survey, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, and the PTSD Checklist DSM-5 were used for a proxy measure of psychological distress. As possible predictors of sustained resilient outcomes, we investigated socio-demographic characteristics, economic and housing status, pandemic-related issues, chronic diseases, social support, fear of contamination and personal values which were investigated respectively through the Oslo Social Support Scale, the Padua Inventory, and the Portrait Values Questionnaire. Data were analysed with a Mover-Stayer Latent Transition Analysis model.ResultsNine-hundred and forty-three participants with a mental disorder were included in the analysis. Variables associated with a higher chance of sustained resilient outcomes were older age, maintaining a job, and having more people in the household. In contrast, female gender, losing job, difficulty in meeting basic needs, higher fear of contamination, hedonism, less social support and loneliness resulted in a lower likelihood of presenting sustained resilient outcomes.ConclusionThis study identified factors that predictsustained resilience in people with mental disorders. The newly discovered predictors could prove invaluable in developing strategies to enhance the resilience of people with mental disorders during times of crises, such as pandemics.