The detrimental effects of the COVID-19 outbreak on mental health are well-documented; to adjust to the new challenges posed by the pandemic, the population employed a variety of health behaviors: some are adaptive (e.g., hand washing) and their maintenance should be promoted, whereas others are maladaptive (e.g., social avoidance) and could degenerate in full blown disorders if left untreated.
Furthermore, the pandemic affected distinct sections of the population in different ways: existing problems might have been exacerbated in contexts characterized by low socioeconomic status and scarcity of resources.
Literature indicates that knowledge of a disease, when reliable, can act as a buffer against negative psychological effects.
For these reasons, the aim of this project is to: investigate the long-term psychological effects and lifestyle changes associated with the pandemic, intervening on dysfunctional ones and reinforcing functional changes; develop tailored psychological interventions to address the needs of individuals especially in socially deprived contexts; implement a strategy to spread reliable information and prevent disinformation and misinformation.
To this end, the project will include: a data collection phase to assess the long-term psychological response to COVID-19 and lifestyles changes, implementing an online questionnaire for the general population and a paper and pencil version for areas of Rome identified as low-income; a treatment phase, implementing tailored psychological support for those who have asked for help during the first phase; a phase to release a software application to provide support for: the remote administration of psychological tests or surveys; a communication interface between the person and an healthcare operator; educational contents to disseminate reliable COVID-19 related information. Lastly, a follow-up phase will involve future evaluations of those participants who expressed their willingness to be contacted again.
