Pandemic and our psyche. In 2021, we were less stressed

The National Health Test of Poles by Medonet is the largest health survey on the Polish Internet. In 2021, over 340 people took part in it. participants. Some of the questions concerned our mental health. It turned out that in 2021 we were less stressed than in the previous year.

1. Although our mental health in 2021 did not improve compared to the previous year, we were less stressed in the past 12 months
2. Two thirds of the respondents coped with stress
3. But the overall mental health rating has deteriorated compared to the previous study, especially in the youngest group
4. Respond before it’s too late. Get to know your Health Index!
5. More information can be found on the Onet homepage

The material was created as part of the #KOCHAJSIEBIE social campaign, encouraging Poles to change their habits – caring for mental and physical health that was severely strained during the pandemic. The action is carried out jointly by Medonet, Onet and United Nations Global Compact Network Poland.

We were less stressed during a pandemic

It would seem that the pandemic is a very difficult time for our psyche. Remote work, limited contacts with family and friends, barriers related to shopping or traveling had to affect our mental well-being.

Paradoxically, however, according to the National Health Test of Poles, last year we stressed less than in 2020. Apparently, we have already learned to live with the ubiquitous coronavirus, cherish our somewhat limited world and find solace in contacts with family, simple habits or things.

1. Also check: How to deal with stress?

As many as 22 percent experience stressful situations every day. Poles, and 30 percent several times a week; However, these results are slightly lower than in 2020, when 24% of them experienced everyday stress. Poles, and stress several times a week – 31 percent.

Although percent. daily answers to the question about the frequency of stressful situations fell in women from 28 to 26 percent. and in men from 20 to 18 percent, it is also two percentage points. – both among women and men – the percentage of responses in which we declared that we experienced stressful situations once a month or less frequently increased.

How to deal with stress? Not much is enough

One-fifth of respondents coped with stress thanks to the support of family or friends. As you can see, sometimes you can just call your loved ones to chase away gloomy thoughts. For almost half of Poles it was enough to take a few deep breaths to start working.

Further part under the video.

Pandemic and mental health

However, the pandemic year 2021 had a negative impact on the overall assessment of the mental health of Poles. Although both the majority of women (59%) and men (70%) assess their mental health as very good and good, this percentage decreased by 2 points. percent compared to 2020

At the same time, the number of votes describing their mental state as bad has increased. For women from 11 to 13 percent, for men – from 7 to 8 percent.

It is alarming that as much as 26 percent. 18-24-year-olds consider their mental health to be bad or very bad — that’s as much as 6 points. percent more than in the previous year. This percentage decreases with age. In respondents from the 35-44 group it was 9 percent. and in the 65+ group, only 4 percent.

The pandemic was most clearly felt by the youngest participants of the research.

Expert comment:

Mental problems seem to be an important problem. The current pandemic has certainly contributed to this. The restrictions related to the pandemic, the lack of contacts with peers, the inability to meet friends in cafes, restaurants, and travel restrictions negatively affect the psyche, especially of young people. The study confirmed that meetings with family and friends were held less frequently. Many young people did not work, did not earn or were dismissed from work, which certainly contributed to the achievement of such results, however, there were fewer people reporting stressful situations on a daily basis or several times a week compared to last year’s study.

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