Chronic stress and post-traumatic stress in long COVID: a comparative survey study
Sofia-Marie Oehlke, Annika Lozar, Andreas Goreis, Diana Klinger, Paul L. Plener & Oswald D. Kothgassner
Published: 5 March 2025
Abstract
Long COVID (LC) is a prevalent condition among SARS-CoV-2 infections. Yet, in-depth research on adverse stress responses in LC remains limited.
The primary aim of this study was to investigate chronic stress and post-traumatic stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic specifically experienced in LC, as both have been suggested to interplay with the manifestation of LC.
Using data from N=549 participants in an online survey (nfemale=349, nmale=199, ndiverse=1; age: M=39.24, SD=16.58), we compared three subgroups regarding chronic stress and COVID-19-related traumatic stress as primary outcomes, and psychological distress as secondary outcome: 1) participants with LC (n=283), 2) participants with past COVID-19 without LC (n=102), and 3) participants without past COVID-19 (n=164). In addition, we fitted a binary logistic regression model to examine factors associated with LC.
Participants with LC reported elevated levels across all outcomes compared to the other subgroups (d=0.57-1.24, p < .001-.008), which did not significantly differ from each other. Female gender (OR: 7.772, p < .001) and symptomatic acute COVID-19 emerged as risk factors for LC (OR: 2.776-7.951, p < .001-.036), while a completed primary COVID-19 vaccination series acted as a protective factor for LC (OR: 0.481, p < .025). The duration of LC symptoms revealed no significant association with the outcomes examined.
Our findings contribute to a better understanding of factors influencing health in LC, notably identifying an increased susceptibility to chronic stress and COVID-19-related traumatic stress within LC. Future treatment approaches are encouraged to include psychological interventions with stress and trauma focused elements.
Link | PDF (Current Psychology) [Open Access]
Sofia-Marie Oehlke, Annika Lozar, Andreas Goreis, Diana Klinger, Paul L. Plener & Oswald D. Kothgassner
Published: 5 March 2025
Abstract
Long COVID (LC) is a prevalent condition among SARS-CoV-2 infections. Yet, in-depth research on adverse stress responses in LC remains limited.
The primary aim of this study was to investigate chronic stress and post-traumatic stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic specifically experienced in LC, as both have been suggested to interplay with the manifestation of LC.
Using data from N=549 participants in an online survey (nfemale=349, nmale=199, ndiverse=1; age: M=39.24, SD=16.58), we compared three subgroups regarding chronic stress and COVID-19-related traumatic stress as primary outcomes, and psychological distress as secondary outcome: 1) participants with LC (n=283), 2) participants with past COVID-19 without LC (n=102), and 3) participants without past COVID-19 (n=164). In addition, we fitted a binary logistic regression model to examine factors associated with LC.
Participants with LC reported elevated levels across all outcomes compared to the other subgroups (d=0.57-1.24, p < .001-.008), which did not significantly differ from each other. Female gender (OR: 7.772, p < .001) and symptomatic acute COVID-19 emerged as risk factors for LC (OR: 2.776-7.951, p < .001-.036), while a completed primary COVID-19 vaccination series acted as a protective factor for LC (OR: 0.481, p < .025). The duration of LC symptoms revealed no significant association with the outcomes examined.
Our findings contribute to a better understanding of factors influencing health in LC, notably identifying an increased susceptibility to chronic stress and COVID-19-related traumatic stress within LC. Future treatment approaches are encouraged to include psychological interventions with stress and trauma focused elements.
Link | PDF (Current Psychology) [Open Access]
