Groups most at risk to mental health impact of coronavirus predicted by Sheffield academics

Psychologists from the University of Sheffield predict parents with young children are one of the groups to be at greater risk to the mental health impact of the Covid-19 lockdown.

The team of researchers, leading a study of the mental health and social impact of the coronavirus pandemic, have predicted a rise in the number of parents with young families to report significant levels of depression and anxiety.

In the study, led by Professor Richard Bentall, a team of experts are surveying 2,000 people in the UK now.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He said the mental health impacts of the lockdown poses "more stress" to parents with young children.

Psychologists from the University of Sheffield predict parents with young children are one of the groups to be at greater risk to the mental health impact of the Covid-19 lockdown. Pictured people out cycling and running in Roundhay Park, Leeds during the coronavirus lockdown. Picture: Simon Hulme Copyright: jpimediaPsychologists from the University of Sheffield predict parents with young children are one of the groups to be at greater risk to the mental health impact of the Covid-19 lockdown. Pictured people out cycling and running in Roundhay Park, Leeds during the coronavirus lockdown. Picture: Simon Hulme Copyright: jpimedia
Psychologists from the University of Sheffield predict parents with young children are one of the groups to be at greater risk to the mental health impact of the Covid-19 lockdown. Pictured people out cycling and running in Roundhay Park, Leeds during the coronavirus lockdown. Picture: Simon Hulme Copyright: jpimedia

"I'm worried about people who have children at home, particularly primary school children," said Professor Bentall.

"I think they are under a lot of stress because family life has been disrupted.

"Based on our research if someone had a good functioning family already they will probably become closer still and will be better psychologically.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"Whereas those who have a dysfunctional family their family will become more dysfunctional and they will be harmed."

He added people with pre-existing health conditions and those who have suffered adverse economic consequences were also more at risk.

"I'm worried about these three groups more than others," Professor Bentall said.

He added: "Our first goal was to identify who was harmed by this and who isn't.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"Some people will actually benefit from what's going on, so we might see overall the level of psychiatric disorders in the country as a whole doesn't change all that much but what will happen is some groups will suffer more than others."

The second results of the study are expected within days. It follows on from new research published last month which showed a rise in number of people reporting significant levels of depression and anxiety immediately after the UK's coronavirus shutdown.The team said they will survey the same group of people across the UK again in the coming months.

The study was launched after a number of charities warned of a mental health crisis during the Covid-19 shutdown.

The work will be shared with Public Health England and the team hopes their findings will help inform the better management of future public health crises.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Dr Jilly Gibson-Miller, Lecturer in Health Psychology at the University of Sheffield, said: “This is one of the first studies of the 'psychology of epidemics' during perhaps one of the biggest existential threats the world has faced this century.

“Our survey will allow us to begin to understand, in great depth, the psychological impact of this epidemic on our citizens and how this changes as the epidemic unfolds.

Professor Richard Bentall added: "We hope to have a complete map of the psychology of the pandemic which will provide a recipe for what we do in the future because there will be other pandemics.

"This is not going to be the last one for sure. We will know much better what to do next time."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Similar surveys will also be carried out at the University of Ulster.

Join our new coronavirus Facebook group for the latest confirmed news and advice as soon as we get it www.facebook.com/groups/yorkshirecoronavirus

_________________________________________

Editor’s note: first and foremost - and rarely have I written down these words with more sincerity - I hope this finds you well.

Almost certainly you are here because you value the quality and the integrity of the journalism produced by The Yorkshire Post’s journalists - almost all of which live alongside you in Yorkshire, spending the wages they earn with Yorkshire businesses - who last year took this title to the industry watchdog’s Most Trusted Newspaper in Britain accolade.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

And that is why I must make an urgent request of you: as advertising revenue declines, your support becomes evermore crucial to the maintenance of the journalistic standards expected of The Yorkshire Post. If you can, safely, please buy a paper or take up a subscription. We want to continue to make you proud of Yorkshire’s National Newspaper but we are going to need your help.

Postal subscription copies can be ordered by calling 0330 4030066 or by emailing [email protected]. Vouchers, to be exchanged at retail sales outlets - our newsagents need you, too - can be subscribed to by contacting subscriptions on 0330 1235950 or by visiting www.localsubsplus.co.uk where you should select The Yorkshire Post from the list of titles available.

If you want to help right now, download our tablet app from the App / Play Stores. Every contribution you make helps to provide this county with the best regional journalism in the country.

Sincerely. Thank you.

James Mitchinson

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.