You can't do anything about it, but you can make the best of it: a qualitative analysis of pandemic-related experiences in six European countries

Irina Zrnić Novaković; Brigitte Lueger-Schuster; Lucia Verginer; Helena Bakić; Dean Ajduković; Camila Borges; Margarida Figueiredo-Braga; Jana Darejan Javakhishvili; Lela Tsiskarishvili; Małgorzata Dragan; Nadia Nagórka; Xenia Anastassiou-Hadjicharalambous; Chrysanthi Lioupi; Annett Lotzin

doi:10.1080/20008198.2022.2065431

You can't do anything about it, but you can make the best of it: a qualitative analysis of pandemic-related experiences in six European countries

Eur J Psychotraumatol. 2022 May 20;13(1):2065431. doi: 10.1080/20008198.2022.2065431. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Irina Zrnić Novaković^{1

2}, Brigitte Lueger-Schuster¹, Lucia Verginer¹, Helena Bakić³, Dean Ajduković², Camila Borges⁴, Margarida Figueiredo-Braga^{4

5}, Jana Darejan Javakhishvili⁶, Lela Tsiskarishvili⁷, Małgorzata Dragan⁸, Nadia Nagórka⁸, Xenia Anastassiou-Hadjicharalambous⁹, Chrysanthi Lioupi⁹, Annett Lotzin^{10

11}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
² Vienna Doctoral School in Cognition, Behavior and Neuroscience, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
³ Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
⁴ Trauma Observatory, Centre for Social Studies (CES) of the University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
⁵ Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
⁶ Institute of Addiction Studies, Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia.
⁷ Faculty of Arts and Science, Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia.
⁸ Faculty of Psychology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
⁹ Psychology Program, School of Ηumanities, Social Sciences and Law, University of Nicosia, Nicosia, Cyprus.
¹⁰ Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
¹¹ Department of Psychology, MSH Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.

Abstract
in English, Spanish, Chinese

Background: The complex system of stressors related to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected the global population, provoking a broad range of psychological reactions. Although numerous studies have investigated the mental health impact of COVID-19, qualitative research and cross-country comparisons are still rare.

Objective: This qualitative study aimed to explore self-perceived challenges and opportunities related to COVID-19 across six European countries. The overall objective was to provide a differentiated picture of individual subjective experiences in the early stages of the pandemic.

Method: The present study included 7309 participants from Austria, Croatia, Georgia, Greece, Poland, and Portugal. We performed qualitative content analysis according to Mayring analyse open-ended questions regarding stressful events, positive and negative aspects of the pandemic, and recommendations to cope with the pandemic situation. MAXQDA software was used for data management and analysis.

Results: Participants' accounts were moderately consistent across the countries. The most prominent themes regarding stressful and negative pandemic aspects included: Restrictions and changes in daily life, Emotional distress, and Work and finances. Answers about positive pandemic consequences were mainly centred around the themes Reflection and growth, Opportunity for meaningful/enjoyable activities, and Benefits on interpersonal level. Key themes identified from participants' recommendations to cope with the pandemic included Beneficial behavioural adjustment, Beneficial cognitive-emotional strategies, and Social support.

Conclusions: Participants experienced various challenges, but also shared several positive pandemic consequences and recommendations to cope with the pandemic. These first-hand data could inform mental health practices to promote well-being during COVID-19 and similar global challenges in the participating countries and possibly beyond.

Highlights: We examined COVID-19-related experiences in 7309 adults from six European countries.Besides challenges, participants identified many positive pandemic consequences.Participants' recommendations to cope with COVID-19 included behavioural and cognitive-emotional strategies.

Antecedentes: El complejo sistema de factores estresantes relacionados con la pandemia por la COVID-19 ha afectado a la población mundial, generando un amplio rango de reacciones psicológicas. A pesar de que múltiples estudios han investigado el impacto sobre la salud mental de la COVID-19, las investigaciones cualitativas y las comparaciones entre países aún son infrecuentes.Objetivo: Este estudio cualitativo buscó explorar los retos y las oportunidades autopercibidas asociadas a la COVID-19 en seis países europeos. El objetivo general fue el de brindar un panorama diferenciado de experiencias individuales subjetivas en las etapas tempranas de la pandemia.Método: Este estudio incluyó a N = 7309 participantes de Austria, Croacia, Georgia, Grecia, Polonia y Portugal. Se empleó el análisis de contenido de Mayring para analizar preguntas abiertas acerca de experiencias estresantes, de experiencias positivas y negativas de la pandemia, y recomendaciones para afrontar la situación de la pandemia. Se empleó el software MAXQDA para la gestión y el análisis de la información.Resultados: Los relatos de los participantes eran moderadamente consistentes entre los países. Los temas más prominentes respecto a los aspectos estresantes y negativos de la pandemia incluyeron a: restricciones y cambios en la vida diaria, angustia emocional, y trabajo y finanzas. Las respuestas sobre las consecuencias positivas de la pandemia se centraban principalmente alrededor de los temas de reflexión y crecimiento personal, oportunidad para realizar actividades significativas / placenteras, y beneficios en a nivel interpersonal. Los temas clave identificados a partir de las recomendaciones de los participantes para afrontar la pandemia incluyeron adaptaciones conductuales beneficiosas, estrategias cognitivo-emocionales beneficiosas, y soporte social. Conclusiones: Los participantes experimentaron diversos desafíos, pero también compartieron varias consecuencias positivas de la pandemia y recomendaciones para afrontarla. Esta información de primera mano podría informar sobre las prácticas de salud mental a promover durante la COVID-19 o desafíos globales similares en los países participantes y, posiblemente, más allá.

背景：: COVID-19 疫情相关复杂应激源系统影响了全球人口，引发了广泛的心理反应。尽管大量研究调查了 COVID-19 对心理健康的影响，但定性研究和跨国比较仍然很少见。.

目的：: 本定性研究旨在探索六个欧洲国家 COVID-19 相关的自我认知挑战和机遇。总体目标是为疫情早期阶段的个人主观体验提供不同的描述。.

方法：: 本研究包括来自奥地利、克罗地亚、格鲁吉亚、希腊、波兰和葡萄牙的 N = 7309 名参与者。我们通过 Mayring 行了定性内容分析，以分析有关紧张事件、疫情积极和消极方面以及应对疫情情况建议的开放式问题。使用MAXQDA软件进行数据管理和分析。.

结果：: 参与者的解释在各国之间是适度一致的。关于紧张和疫情消极方面最突出的主题包括：日常生活的限制和变化、情绪困扰以及工作和财务。关于疫情积极后果的回答主要集中在反思和成长、有意义/愉快活动的机会和人际层面的好处等主题上。从参与者应对疫情的建议中确定的关键主题包括有益的行为调整、有益的认知情绪策略和社会支持。.

结论：: 参与者经历了各种挑战，但也分享了一些积极的疫情后果和应对疫情的建议。这些第一手数据可以为心理健康实践提供信息，以促进 COVID-19 期间的福祉以及参与国甚至更远地区的相似全球挑战。.

Keywords: COVID-19; coping; coronavirus; cross-country study; mental health; pandemic; positive aspects; qualitative content analysis.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adaptation, Psychological
Adult
COVID-19* / epidemiology
Europe / epidemiology
Humans
Pandemics*
Qualitative Research

Grants and funding

The data assessment in Poland was supported by the Faculty of Psychology, University of Warsaw, from the funds awarded by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education in the form of a subsidy for the maintenance and development of research potential in 2021 [501-D125-01-1250000 zlec.5011000638] and the Excellence Initiative – Research University [501-D125-20-0004316]. The remaining countries did not receive funding for this study.

Abstract in English, Spanish, Chinese

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding

Abstract
in English, Spanish, Chinese