Pandemieassoziierte Konsequenzen und Unterstützungsbedarf: Mixed-methods-Längsschnittanalyse über 2 Jahre der COVID-19-Pandemie in Deutschland

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is potentially associated with numerous changes in the life of the general population; nevertheless, to date there is hardly any evidence on which effects are experienced as particularly severe and negative, how these effects and their evaluations changed over the course of the pandemic and which wishes for support arose in this context. METHOD: Longitudinal data from an online study with 10 assessments over the first 2 years of the pandemic (March 2020–April 2022) were analyzed in a mixed methods approach. The sample of 8337 adults from the general population in Germany answered qualitative free text questions about the most severe consequences of the pandemic on their lives and need/wishes for support. In addition, the evaluation of the consequences over the course of the pandemic and their associations with psychological distress were quantitatively examined. RESULTS: The consequences experienced and especially their evaluation changed over the course of the pandemic. On average, consequences targeting social and life in general aspects were experienced as particularly severe and negative. Negatively experienced consequences were cross-sectionally and partly also longitudinally associated with stronger anxiety and depressive symptoms. Psychotherapeutic and evaluative communicative support was particularly frequently requested in the context of the pandemic. CONCLUSION: Subjectively negatively experienced consequences of the pandemic should if possible be mitigated by adequate measures. The dynamic changes of the consequences and thus also the need for support over the course of the pandemic should be taken into account. Possible support options range from very low-threshold offers (e.g., tips online) up to psychotherapy.