Post-traumatic growth during the COVID-19 pandemic
Abstract
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus disease a pandemic on March 11, 2020. The rapid and widespread transmission of COVID-19 has become a major concern for the healthcare profession. Isolation, contact restrictions, and economic shutdowns have imposed a complete change on the psychosocial environment in affected countries. These measures have the potential to threaten the mental health of people of all ages, and even more so of children, adolescents, and young adults. Although the current crisis may bring opportunities for personal growth and family cohesion, the disadvantages may far outweigh the benefits. Anxiety, distress, fear, lack of contact with peers, and reduced opportunities for stress regulation are the main concerns. Another major threat is the increased risk of mental illness among family members hospitalized as a result of COVID-19 infection, domestic violence, and child abuse, especially in children and adolescents with special needs or disadvantages, such as disabilities, traumatic experiences, pre-existing mental health problems, and adverse socioeconomic conditions. Women also report a greater impact, given the differences in stress response systems, which reinforces a greater concern among female staff, who demonstrate greater psychological vulnerability.
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