Latent classes of posttraumatic stress disorder, adjustment disorder, and wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic in over 10,000 people across 11 European countries

An overview of the ESTSS COVID-19 cohort study that examines relationships between COVID-related stressors, risk and resilience factors, and symptoms of adjustment disorder during the current pandemic. Objective: The first cross-sectional results of the study will be presented. Method: This longitudinal study is conducted in eleven countries (Austria, Croatia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, and Sweden). Participants aged at least 18 years were included in this study and are assessed at two-time points, with a six-month interval using an online survey. A COVID-19 conceptual framework of mental health based on the WHO’s framework of health was used to select stressors, risk, and resilience factors that might be related to symptoms of adjustment disorder (ADNM-8), or posttraumatic stress disorder (PC-PTSD-5), respectively. Risk or resilience factors (e.g., age, gender, income, work situation, health condition) are assessed by self-constructed items. Stressors (e.g., crisis communication, fear of contracting COVID-19, restricted physical contact) are measured by four-point rating scales (0 = not at all burdened to 3 = strongly burdened). Results: N = 15,564 participants were included in the study. A preliminary cross-sectional regression analysis indicated that risk and resilience factors, such as income, a diagnosis of a mental disorder, and a poor health condition, showed small to moderate associations with symptoms of adjustment disorder. Stressors that are unique to the pandemic, such as poor crisis communication, restricted physical contact, and work-related problems, were also related to symptoms of adjustment disorder. Conclusions: Recommendations to promote mental health during the current COVID-19 pandemic will be discussed.