Abstract:

Rapid changes in everyday life of young people due to the COVID-19 pandemic appear not only to adversely affect their quality of life and health satisfaction but also their mental health. The strict measures implemented by governments such as home restriction measures, university campuses closure and shift to online learning, restaurants, pubs and cafes’ closure and abstaining from leisure and sports activities burden them further.

This research focuses on the consequences of the covid-19 pandemic on young Greek population (18-26 years old) and measures the effect on the quality of life of young people; post-traumatic and dissociative symptoms, stress, depression, sleeping problems, anger, suicidal ideation and addictive behaviors and other clinical symptoms in relevance with demographic, social and epidemiological characteristics. 500 university students participated voluntary on an online self report survey accessed through social media networks. The questionnaires included demographic, social and medical characteristics and their personal experience related to covid-19. Two psychometric scales were administered for measuring quality of life index (WHOQUOL-BREF) and for psychological trauma (Global Psychotrauma Screen-GPS) used with kind permission from World Health Organization and Global Collaboration on Traumatic Stress. Regression analysis correlated students’ perceptions about their quality of life and enjoyment of life with personal traumatic experiences and stressful life events during pandemic era.

The results can be useful for further research and designing mental health support policies and prevention strategies for mental health consequences on young populations after pandemics.

Keywords:

Pandemic, covid-19, quality of life, psychological consequences, trauma, restriction measures.