UMCG research: “Quality of life is falling to a lowest point since start of Corona crisis”
Quality of life has not been this low since the outbreak of the Coronavirus crisis, reports the GIC, quoting UMCG research. People in the Northern Netherlands have a rating of 6.9 overall, whilst young adults have a quality of life rating of just 6.0. In the summer the average figure was 7.7 and at the start of the Coronavirus crisis everyone gave life a 7.4. Mental health levels have also fallen to rock bottom.\
According to the university hospital UMCG, it is also striking that social interconnectedness has taken a dive. Less than half of the people still feel connected with others, compared to 70 percent in March 2020.
The research shows that quality of life has declined in all population groups. There are many people who feel depressed, listless or lonely, says the hospital. This downward trend is visible in all layers of the population, regardless of age, education level, sex and household type.
“Undoubtedly, there are people who wonder whether they are the only ones who are tired or sad,” says professor of genetics Lude Franke (UMCG). “Our research undeniably shows that these feelings are experienced in every layer of the population. Perhaps it offers some comfort to people that they are not the only ones currently struggling with the consequences of corona.”
Young adults hit hardest
Young adults are hit the hardest, says the research, and tend to give their life a 6.0, compared to a 7.7 in the summer. Lockdown and curfew measures have hit students hard, too, with online education, no casual work in the catering industry and little social interaction. Another explanation is that they have tested positive for COVID19 relatively often (7%, compared to an average of 3.5%) or that one of their housemates has tested positive, which means that student houses often have to be quarantined.
Despite the strict lockdown measures, one big difference is visible compared to the first lockdown: many more people are now going to work. In the first lockdown, 40 percent worked on location, now 51 percent are going to their normal workplace every day. Highly educated people in particular often go back to work, while they did not in the first wave.
The researchers want to use the results of the Lifelines study to see what risk factors there are for contracting the Coronavirus.
Image via Wikimedia user Vilja Tuohino. License here.
