Psychological consequences of experiencing the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic: early maladaptive schemas and mental health and quality of life

ABSTRACT

The research presented here aimed to determine the psychological consequences of experiencing Poland’s coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We focused on changes in mental health (anxiety and depression symptoms, morbid thoughts, and suicidal ideation) and quality of life. Our retrospective study included 499 adults comprising 316 women and 173 men (aged 18–72, Me = 27, SD = 12.48). We employed the following research tools: the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-30), the shortened version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF), and the abridged version of the Harkavy Asnis Suicide Survey (HASS-BREF) scale to assess the severity of suicidal ideations and behaviors, as well as the Young Schema Questionnaire (YSQ-S3-PL). The questionnaires’ instructions for the subjects were modified to obtain information for three specific periods: before the pandemic, at the most difficult time of the pandemic for individuals, and in the last two weeks (the time period preceding data collection; January/February 2021). It emerged that both mental health and quality of life had deteriorated significantly in the studied population. In addition, early maladaptive schemas (Abandonment, Vulnerability to Harm, and Insufficient Self-Control) were likely predictors of mental health deterioration at the most difficult time of the COVID-19 pandemic. The schema of Defectiveness was likely predictor of a lower severity of symptoms of mental health disturbances. If psychological diagnosis covered the identification of thinking patterns typical of maladaptive schemas, which may be a risk factor for mental health deterioration, psychologists could better adapt forms and ways of psychological assistance to the patient’s needs.

KEYWORDS:

• COVID-19 pandemic
• mental health
• quality of life
• suicidal thoughts
• maladaptive schemas

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Adam Mickiewicz University [Research on COVID-19, grant numbers 25/2020]