Résultats

This paper examined to what extent pandemic-related exposures were associated with negative affect up to 2,5 years from the outbreak of the pandemic in Switzerland. 

We drew on longitudinal data from five waves (2018-2022) of the Swiss Household Panel, including the pandemic questionnaire collected in May-June 2020 (n = 5,657). Our outcome, negative affect (e.g., frequency of anxiety or sadness), was measured in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

Our study showed that a higher frequency of psychosomatic symptoms (e.g., sweating), greater worries (e.g., lifestyle) and concerns about perceived financial risk were strongly and persistently associated with higher negative affect up to 2.5 years after the outbreak of the pandemic. Worsened relationships with neighbours and a deteriorated financial situation were associated with higher negative affect during the pandemic, but not post-pandemic. Finally, an increase in physical activity (but not an absolute frequency of exercising) was linked to lower negative affect in the short-term. 

The findings emphasise the importance of mitigating pandemic-related worries and stress, as these can have long-lasting post-crisis consequences on people’s wellbeing. Moreover, preventing a decline in the financial situation and relationships within the community as well as adopting a healthy lifestyle may have protective effects.

We described population-average trajectories of wellbeing, spanning the period of 2017–2022, comparing young people with other age groups. We showed that young people (age 14–25) experienced a steady decline in positive moods and life satisfaction throughout the entire period, with the greatest change occurring already before the pandemic (2017–2019). The trajectories in this outcome were largely stable in other age groups.

For all age groups, negative emotions increased during the pandemic and declined thereafter. But young individuals showed a more pronounced increase in the pre-pandemic years. Among young people specifically, the trajectory of stress resembled the one of negative emotions. However, issues such as sleep problems, weakness, weariness, and headaches increased from 2017 to 2022. We also found evidence for a greater increase in negative emotions during the pandemic in young women and young people not in employment or education.

As the decline in young people’s wellbeing in Switzerland started at least two years before the pandemic, our study emphasises the importance of considering their wellbeing within a broader systemic context beyond pandemic-related changes.

This study was conducted using longitudinal data from six waves (2017–2022) of the Swiss Household Panel (www.swisspanel.ch). Participants were at least 14 years old in 2017 (11’224 individuals and 49’032 observations). We conceptualized wellbeing as positive affect and life satisfaction, negative affect, stress and psychosomatic symptoms. We described the trajectories of wellbeing using piecewise growth curve analysis. To describe wellbeing trajectories across subgroups of young people, we assessed gender, migration status, partnership status, living with parents, education/employment status, and household income.