The relationship between the coronavirus measures’ stringency, the speed of measure implementation and perceived stress

CEPULIC D-B; TRAVAGLINO GA; CHRONA S; UZELAC E; JEFTIC A; REYNA C ; KOWAL M

Conferencia; 3rd International Scientific Conference; 2021

Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, scientists have been researching the impact of measures against the coronavirus on physical health. However, it is more and more evident that such measures also affect psychological well-being. On one hand, there is research suggesting that more stringent measures are accompanied by more desirable psychological effects. Simultaneously, other studies indicate that greater restrictions are associated with increased depression and worry. To elucidate these discrepancies, we examined whether the relationship of measures’ stringency and perceived stress was affected by the speed of measure implementation. Furthermore, we investigated how these effects varied across countries with different views of power relationships and trust in government. A sample of almost 90 000 participants from more than 40 countries was gathered via an online survey within the COVIDiSTRESS Global Survey collaboration during a two-month period at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020. The subsequent regression analyses revealed that the relationship between measures’ stringency and stress changed from slightly positive to negative as the speed of measure implementation decreased. However, this effect was absent in countries where the acceptance of the unequal distribution of power was higher. Finally, the effect of the trust in government on the relationship between measures’ stringency and perceived stress was negligible. The results suggest that the speed of measure implementation is a factor to be considered when researching the relationship of measures against the coronavirus and psychological well-being.