Heterogeneous Mental Health Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic in Germany: An Examination of Long-Term Trajectories, Risk Factors, and Vulnerable Groups

Abundant studies have examined mental health in the early periods of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, empirical work examining the mental health impact of the pandemic's subsequent phases remains limited. In the present study, we investigated how mental vulnerability and resilience evolved over the various phases of the pandemic in 2020 and 2021 in Germany. Data were collected (n = 3522) across seven measurement occasions using validated and self-generated measures of vulnerability and resilience. We found evidence for an immediate increase in vulnerability during the first lockdown in Germany, a trend towards recovery when lockdown measures were eased, and an increase in vulnerability with each passing month of the second lockdown. Four different latent trajectories of resilience-vulnerability emerged, with the majority of participants displaying a rather resilient trajectory, but nearly 30% of the sample fell into the more vulnerable groups. Females, younger individuals, those with a history of psychiatric disorders, lower income groups, and those with high trait vulnerability and low trait social belonging were more likely to exhibit trajectories associated with poorer mental well-being. Our findings indicate that resilience-vulnerability responses in Germany during the COVID-19 pandemic may have been more complex than previously thought, identifying risk groups that could benefit from greater support.

Automated summary

This study investigated the evolution of mental vulnerability and resilience during the different phases of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany from 2020 to 2021. The findings suggest an immediate increase in vulnerability during the first lockdown, a trend towards recovery during the easing of lockdown measures, and an increase in vulnerability with each month of the second lockdown. Four latent trajectories of resilience-vulnerability were identified, with the majority exhibiting a resilient trajectory but nearly 30% belonging to more vulnerable groups. Risk factors for poorer mental well-being included being female, younger, having a history of psychiatric disorders, belonging to lower income groups, and having high trait vulnerability and low trait social belonging.