%0 Journal Article
%@ 2368-7959
%I JMIR Publications
%V 8
%N 8
%P e29419
%T The Persistence of the Impact of COVID-19–Related Distress, Mood Inertia, and Loneliness on Mental Health During a Postlockdown Period in Germany: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study
%A Haucke,Matthias
%A Liu,Shuyan
%A Heinzel,Stephan
%+ Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Charité Mitte, Charitéplatz 1, Berlin, Germany, 49 30450517002, siyan908@hotmail.com
%K COVID-19
%K outbreaks
%K epidemics
%K pandemics
%K psychological responses and emotional well-being
%K ecological momentary assessment
%K risk and protective factors
%K low incidence and restrictions
%D 2021
%7 26.8.2021
%9 Original Paper
%J JMIR Ment Health
%G English
%X Background: The first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 increased mental health problems globally. However, little is known about mental health problems during a low-incidence period of the pandemic without strict public health measures. Objective: We aim to investigate whether COVID-19–related risk factors for mental health problems persist beyond lockdown measures. We targeted a vulnerable population that is at risk of developing low mental health and assessed their daily dynamics of mood and emotion regulation after a strict lockdown. Methods: During a postlockdown period in Germany (between August 8, 2020, and November 1, 2020), we conducted an ecological momentary assessment with 131 participants who experienced at least mild COVID-19–related distress and loneliness. To estimate negative mood inertia, we built a lag-1 three-level autoregressive model. Results: We found that information exposure and active daily COVID-19 cases did not have an impact on negative mood amid a postlockdown period. However, there was a day-to-day carryover effect of negative mood. In addition, worrying about COVID-19, feeling restricted by COVID-19, and feeling lonely increased negative mood. Conclusions: The mental health of a vulnerable population is still challenged by COVID-19–related stressors after the lifting of a strict lockdown. This study highlights the need to protect mental health during postpandemic periods. 
%M 34347622
%R 10.2196/29419
%U https://mental.jmir.org/2021/8/e29419
%U https://doi.org/10.2196/29419
%U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34347622