Coronavirus Timeline
Beginning in Wuhan City, China, in December 2019, a lockdown was imposed on billions of people. However, the following weeks' psychological impact developed to a marked increase in the incidence of depression, anxiety, and suicide attempts. In contrast, the psycho-social impact was evident in the unprecedented rise in domestic violence rates. Unlike the biomedical model and the social model, the Biopsychosocial model states that health and disease determination depends on dynamic interactions between three entities, including the biological, psychological, and social factors. The interaction of these factors significantly helps determine the cause, manifestation, and outcome of wellness and disease.
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The Biological Impact
The 'bio' entity concerns with the biological aspect and its impact on health. Considering COVID-19, the disease's causative agent is a lethal member of coronaviruses called SARS-CoV-2. Although bats are the first accused of being the biological vectors, recent variants have shown that vectors are not the only causative agents of COVID-19.
The Psychological Aspect
In disease outcomes, the psychological entity is very present. This entity concern concerns psychological aspects such as thoughts, emotions, or behaviors. Considering the COVID-19, multiple quarantines and the sudden lifestyle change were the most significant cause of the severe deterioration in the population's psychological status. A broad range of psychological reactions began from the fear of disease and the fear of being a disease vector as well, noting COVID-19's highly infectious nature. The continuation of quarantine restrictions had a significant impact on developing anxiety into more complex emotions such as insomnia, depression, boredom, and anger.
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The Social Aspect
The 'social' entity concerns ties within communities, families, and other social groups. The pandemic and the resulting economic crisis have frayed social dynamics within these groups. Unregulated worldwide policies and on and off lockdowns have also exacerbated people's ability to bear the burdens of the COVID-19 pandemic. The most affected social groups were the poor and those with low incomes, especially in countries that did not take adequate measures to ensure food security during the pandemic. The elderly and people with chronic diseases were more likely to contract the disease. Therefore it was difficult for them to cope with isolation and the lack of interaction with others. The pandemic also caused familial rifts and marked increases (especially during the first wave and mass lockdowns) in domestic violence worldwide.
Discussing the biological causative factors, and the psychological and social outcomes of COVID-19 can give us a better understanding of the disease status overall.
References
Jadoo, S. A. (n.d.). COVID -19 pandemic is a worldwide typical biopsychosocial crisis. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.47108/jidhealth.Vol3.Iss2.58
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Article Author: Rahma Osman Article Editors: Maria Giroux, Stephanie Sahadeo