By Sheila Mckenzie-
A survey conducted by academic scholars from the London School Of Economics have concluded that the Uk is suffering from a high level of psychiatric distress arising from Covid-19. A comprehensive research analysis using a broad data and methodology, concluded that ethnic minorities, women and young people under 25 have all suffered knocks to their mental well being as a result of Covid-19 and the lockdown.
Daily happiness, reduction in sense of purpose, and daily anxiety, were all used in conducting the study.Their analysis suggests that on average, the UK population is now suffering with high levels of psychological distress, and the Uk as a whole is close to the threshold for psychiatric morbidity (mean score is 3.8). The researchers said Psychological distress is particularly high for women, ethnic minority groups and key workers. The groups based their questions on subjective well being (SWB) as defined by the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS)6 covering life satisfaction, happiness, anxiety and sense of purpose (worthwhile).
The COVID-19 global health pandemic is having a major impact on our lives, yet little is known about the effects of policy responses around the world on people’s wellbeing,” said Jacobs President and Chief Operating Officer Bob Pragada.
According to the research, women saw a larger fall in well being than men,people aged under 25 had the biggest reduction in well being across all age groups, and ethnic minorities reported a larger decrease in well being than whites. Whilst women have reported the largest falls in well being, the group with the lowest levels of well being on all metrics are men. Researchers used regression analysis to control the key determinants of well being in order to better understand the impacts of COVID-19 on people in the UK.
The team of academics took into account key factors that drive well being, such as marital status and educational qualifications. A well being analysis account factors are controlled as we may weaken the impact of an event on well being.
Interactive models were used to test whether there are statistically significant differences in effect size by gender and ethnic group The negative association between COVID-19 and life satisfaction, daily happiness and sense of purpose is statistically significantly worse for women than for men. The association between COVID-19 and higher levels of daily anxiety is statistically high .We assessed the effects of losing your job, losing your business, being furloughed, having salary or work hours reduced and being a key worker during
the COVID-19 crisis in the UK.
Individuals who lose their business were statistically associated with large decreases in life satisfaction, whilst being a key worker is statistically associated with increases in life satisfaction. Researchers associated being a key worker with increases in daily anxiety. The implication was that key workers’ overall satisfaction with life has improved (potentially due to feeling that their work is important and being more appreciated), they are feeling more anxious. Researchers used a well being Valuation method set out in the HM Treasury Green Book (2018) and Fujiwara and Dolan (2016) we value the costs to individuals in society of COVID-19, focusing on the impacts on
people’s well being.
Professor Paul Dolan, Head of Department and Professor of Behavioural Science in Psychological and Behavioural Science at LSE, said:
“The difference between reported levels of wellbeing in April 2020 compared to April 2019 is enormous, however, not surprising given the huge toll that COVID-19 and the policy responses are taking on us. We calculate that the social distancing measures make up about two-thirds of the wellbeing impact and this highlights the importance of government policies to address the mental health needs of those whose lives are being most adversely affected by the current measures.”
“As this new report shows, this type of analysis helps inform governments and stakeholders as they develop policy responses and solutions to improve wellbeing and quality of life as we move forward.”
“The anecdotal evidence and news stories clearly show the impact that COVID-19 and social distancing are having on people’s lives,” commented Simetrica-Jacobs Director Dr. Daniel Fujiwara. “The fact that there are significant reductions in a wide range of wellbeing and mental health measures, that the costs of social distancing are large and, that women and ethnic minority groups seem to be disproportionately affected should provide useful insight for policy”.
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