Experience of SARS-CoV-2 virus infection and compulsory isolation during the first wave of the pandemic in Poland – a qualitative analysis

Marta Mrozowicz-Wrońska

Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań; Faculty of Psychology and Cognitive Science
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5228-2148

Katarzyna Ślosarczyk

The University Hospital in Kraków, Psychiatry Clinical Department for Adults, Children, and Youth
https://orcid.org/0009-0002-8336-6368

Marta Koczurek

Independent Public Complex of Health Care Facilities Warszawa-Żoliborz, Mental Health Centre
https://orcid.org/0009-0007-6885-7085


Abstract

Aim: The aim of the present study was to explore the experience of SARS-CoV-2 virus infection and mandatory isolation during the first wave of the pandemic in Poland. 

Method: Five women who were infected with the virus and had been in isolation for three to more than five weeks participated in the study. The procedure used in the analyses was based on the phenomenological approach. 

Results: 5 themes were identified in the analysis: 1. Crisis, 2. Infection, 3. Imprisonment, 4. Symptoms, and 5. Adaptation. Identifying the outlined themes captured the experience of crisis and adaptation to the situation of being infected with a potentially fatal virus and being imprisoned in one's own home for an extended period of time.

Conclusion: The experience of our subjects fits into the wider context of a time of megacrisis, which globally emerged with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, when medical knowledge about it was very limited and isolation became the only tool to deal with the threat.


Keywords:

SARS-CoV-2, mental health, IPA, isolation


Ahmadi, S., Irandoost, S. F., Ahmadi, A., Yoosefi Lebni, J., Mohammadi Gharehghani, M. A., & Baba Safari, N. (2022). Explaining experiences, challenges and adaptation strategies in COVID-19 patients: a qualitative study in Iran. Frontiers in Public Health, 9, Article 778026. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2021.778026   Google Scholar

Aliakbari Dehkordi, M., Eisazadeh, F., & Aghajanbigloo, S. (2019). Psychological consequences of patients with coronavirus (COVID-19): A Qualitative Study. Iranian Journal of Health Psychology, 2(2), 9–20.   Google Scholar

Alsaqqa, H. H. (2022). Building the Culture of Public Health as a Positive Reflection from the COVID-19 Crisis. Risk Management and Healthcare Policy, 15, 1683–1693. https://doi.org/10.2147/RMHP.S365233   Google Scholar

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596   Google Scholar

Badura-Madej, W. (1996). Podstawowe pojęcia teorii kryzysu i interwencji kryzysowej [Crisis theory and crisis intervention – the basic concepts]. In W. Badura-Madej (Ed.), Wybrane zagadnienia interwencji kryzysowej. Poradnik dla pracowników socjalnych [Selected issues in crisis intervention. A guide for social workers] (pp. 15–34). Wydawnictwo Interart.   Google Scholar

Ben-Ezra, M., Hou, W. K., & Goodwin, R. (2020). Investigating the relationship between COVID-19-related and distress and ICD-11 adjustment disorder: two cross-sectional studies. BJPsych open, 7(1), Article 21. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2020.158   Google Scholar

Bhat, S., & Chokroverty, S. (2022). Sleep disorders and COVID-19. Sleep Medicine, 91, 253–261. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2021.07.021   Google Scholar

Boin, A., McConnell, A., & Hart, P. (2021). Governing the pandemic: The politics of navigating a mega-crisis. Springer Nature. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-72680-5   Google Scholar

Caplan, G. (1964). Principles of Preventive Psychiatry. Basic Books.   Google Scholar

Cava, M. A., Fay, K. E., Beanlands, H. J., McCay, E. A., & Wignall, R. (2005). The experience of quarantine for individuals affected by SARS in Toronto. Public Health Nursing (Boston, Mass.), 22(5), 398–406. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0737-1209.2005.220504.x   Google Scholar

Cavalera, C. (2020). COVID-19 psychological implications: The role of shame and guilt. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, Article 571828. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.571828   Google Scholar

Dragan, M., Grajewski, P., & Shevlin, M. (2021). Adjustment disorder, traumatic stress, depression and anxiety in Poland during an early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 12(1), Article 1860356. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2020.1860356   Google Scholar

Dragioti, E., Li, H., Tsitsas, G., Lee, K. H., Choi, J., Kim, J., Choi, Y. J., Tsamakis, K., Estradé, A., Agorastos, A., Vancampfort, D., Tsiptsios, D., Thompson, T., Mosina, A., Vakadaris, G., Fusar-Poli, P., Carvalho, A. F., Correll, C. U., Han, Y. J., Park, S., & Solmi, M. (2022). A large-scale meta-analytic atlas of mental health problems prevalence during the COVID-19 early pandemic. Journal of Medical Virology, 94(5), 1935–1949. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmv.27549   Google Scholar

Endler, N.S., & Parker, J.D. (1990). Multidimensional assessment of coping: A critical evaluation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 58(5), 844–854. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.58.5.844   Google Scholar

Folkman, S., & Moskowitz, J. T. (2000). Positive affect and the other side of coping. American Psychologist, 55(6), 647–654. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.55.6.647   Google Scholar

Haller, M., Norman, S. B., Davis, B. C., Capone, C., Browne, K., & Allard, C. B. (2020). A model for treating COVID-19 – related guilt, shame, and moral injury. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 12(S1), S174‒S176. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0000742   Google Scholar

Hasannezhad Reskati, M., Kheradmand, M., Moosazadeh, M., Assadi, T., Shafizad, M., Hedayatizadeh-Omran, A., Hosseini, S. H., & Elyasi, F. (2023). Comparing mental health status and COVID-19 event impact between survivors and the general population during the second wave of the pandemic in Iran. Nursing Open, 10(2), 738–753. https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.1341   Google Scholar

Hawryluck, L., Gold, W. L., Robinson, S., Pogorski, S., Galea, S., & Styra, R. (2004). SARS control and psychological effects of quarantine, Toronto, Canada. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 10(7), 1206–1212. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid1007.030703   Google Scholar

Helsloot, I., Boin, A., Jacobs, B., & Comfort, L. K. (2012). Mega-crises: Understanding the prospects, nature, characteristics, and the effects of cataclysmic events. Charles C Thomas Publisher.   Google Scholar

Henssler, J., Stock, F., van Bohemen, J., Walter, H., Heinz, A., & Brandt, L. (2021). Mental health effects of infection containment strategies: quarantine and isolation-a systematic review and meta-analysis. European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, 271(2), 223–234. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-020-01196-x   Google Scholar

Kira, I. A., Shuwiekh, H. A., Rice, K. G., Ashby, J. S., Elwakeel, S. A., Sous, M. S. F., ... Jamil, H. J. (2021). Measuring COVID-19 as traumatic stress: Initial psychometrics and validation. Journal of Loss and Trauma, 26(3), 220–237. https://doi.org/10.1080/15325024.2020.1790160   Google Scholar

Kira, I. A., Shuwiekh, H. A., Ashby, J. S., Elwakeel, S. A., Alhuwailah, A., Sous, M. S. F., ... Jamil, H. J. (2023). The impact of COVID-19 traumatic stressors on mental health: Is COVID-19 a new trauma type. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 21(1), 51–70. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-021-00577-0   Google Scholar

Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, appraisal, and coping. Springer.   Google Scholar

Lee, S. A. (2020). Coronavirus Anxiety Scale: A brief mental health screener for COVID-19 related anxiety. Death Studies, 44(7), 393–401. https://doi.org/10.1080/07481187.2020.1748481   Google Scholar

Menzies, R. E., & Menzies, R. G. (2020). Death anxiety in the time of COVID-19: theoretical explanations and clinical implications. Cognitive Behaviour Therapist, 13, Article e19. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1754470X20000215   Google Scholar

Ministry of Health. (2020). Map of coronavirus infection (SARS-CoV-2). http://web.archive.org/web/20200415162619/https://www.gov.pl/web/koronawirus/wykaz-zarazen-koronawirusem-sars-cov-2   Google Scholar

Moradi, Y., Mollazadeh, F., Karimi, P., Hosseingholipour, K., & Baghaei, R. (2020). Psychological disturbances of survivors throughout COVID-19 crisis: a qualitative study. BMC Psychiatry, 20(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-020-03009-w   Google Scholar

Mrozowicz-Wrońska, M., Ślosarczyk, K., & Koczurek, M. (2021). Czynniki stresowe i sposoby radzenia sobie w sytuacji obowiązkowej kwarantanny w czasie pandemii SARS-CoV-2 w Polsce [Stress factors and coping styles in mandatory quarantine during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Poland]. In W. J. Paluchowski & L. Bakiera (Eds.), Psychospołeczny obraz pierwszej fali pandemii COVID-19 w Polsce [A Psychosocial Picture of the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Poland] (pp. 95–106). Wydawnictwo Naukowe UAM.   Google Scholar

Muslu, L., Kolutek, R., & Fidan, G. (2022). Experiences of COVID‐19 survivors: A qualitative study based on Watson’s Theory of Human Caring. Nursing & Health Sciences, 24(3), 774–784. https://doi.org/10.1111/nhs.12979   Google Scholar

Olufadewa, I. I., Adesina, M. A., Oladokun, B., Baru, A., Oladele, R. I., Iyanda, T. O., & Abudu, F. (2020). “I was scared I might die alone”: a qualitative study on the physiological and psychological experience of COVID-19 survivors and the quality of care received at health facilities. International Journal of Travel Medicine and Global Health, 8(2), 51–57. https://doi.org/10.34172/ijtmgh.2020.09   Google Scholar

Paczkowska, A., Nowakowska, E., Michalska, J., Ficner, H., Tyrchniewicz, J., Szymański, A., Wańkowicz, K., Namyślak, K., Gala, A., Sulimiera Michalak, S., Bryl, W., & Michalak, M. (2023). Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown on mental health among the general population in Poland and on the availability of psychological support. Psychology, Health & Medicine, 28(1), 179–188. https://doi.org/10.1080/13548506.2022.2061719   Google Scholar

Peng, M., Mo, B., Liu, Y., Xu, M., Song, X., Liu, L., Fang, Y., Guo, T., Ye, J., Yu, Z., Deng, Q., & Zhang, X. (2020). Prevalence, risk factors and clinical correlates of depression in quarantined population during the COVID-19 outbreak. Journal of Affective Disorders, 275, 119–124. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.06.035   Google Scholar

Pietkiewicz, I., & Smith, J. A. (2014). A practical guide to using interpretative phenomenological analysis in qualitative research psychology. Psychological Journal, 20(1), 7–14. https://doi.org/10.14691/CPPJ.20.1.7   Google Scholar

Plümper, T., & Neumayer, E. (2022). The Politics of Covid-19 Containment Policies in Europe. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 81, Article 103206. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2022.103206   Google Scholar

Podwalski, P., Szczygieł, K., Tyburski, E., Samochowiec, A., & Samochowiec, J. (2022). Concerns, attitudes and comparison of the COVID-19 impact epidemic on the mental state of medical and nonmedical employees. Psychiatria Polska [Polish Psychiatry], 56(2), 277–288. https://doi.org/10.12740/PP/127006   Google Scholar

Poland, G. A., Ovsyannikova, I. G., Crooke, S. N., & Kennedy, R. B. (2020). SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Development: Current Status. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 95(10), 2172–2188. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2020.07.021   Google Scholar

Rahimi, F., & Abadi, A. T. B. (2020). Practical strategies against the novel coronavirus and COVID-19‒the imminent global threat. Archives of Medical Research, 51(3), 280–281. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arcmed.2020.03.005   Google Scholar

Serafini, G., Parmigiani, B., Amerio, A., Aguglia, A., Sher, L., & Amore, M. (2020). The psychological impact of COVID-19 on the mental health in the general population. QJM: Monthly Journal of the Association of Physicians, 113(8), 531–537. https://doi.org/10.1093/qjmed/hcaa201   Google Scholar

Shaban, R. Z., Nahidi, S., Sotomayor-Castillo, C., Li, C., Gilroy, N., O’Sullivan, M. V., & Bag, S. (2020). SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19: The lived experience and perceptions of patients in isolation and care in an Australian healthcare setting. American Journal of Infection Control, 48(12), 1445–1450. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2020.08.032   Google Scholar

Sher, L. (2020). COVID-19, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and suicide. Sleep Medicine, 70, 124. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2020.04.019   Google Scholar

Smith, J. A. (2011). Evaluating the contribution of interpretative phenomenological analysis. Health Psychology Review, 5(1), 9–27. https://doi.org/10.1080/17437199.2010.510659   Google Scholar

Smith, J. A., Flowers, P., & Larkin, M. (2009). Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Theory, Method, and Research. SAGE.   Google Scholar

Sommerlad, A., Marston, L., Huntley, J., Livingston, G., Lewis, G., Steptoe, A., & Fancourt, D. (2021). Social relationships and depression during the COVID-19 lockdown: longitudinal analysis of the COVID-19 Social Study. Psychological Medicine, 52(15), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291721000039   Google Scholar

Sun, N., Wei, L., Wang, H., Wang, X., Gao, M., Hu, X., & Shi, S. (2021). Qualitative study of the psychological experience of COVID-19 patients during hospitalization. Journal of Affective Disorders, 278, 15–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.08.040   Google Scholar

Targa, A. D. S., Benítez, I. D., Moncusí-Moix, A., Arguimbau, M., de Batlle, J., Dalmases, M., & Barbé, F. (2021). Decrease in sleep quality during COVID-19 outbreak. Sleep & Breathing = Schlaf & Atmung, 25(2), 1055–1061. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-020-02202-1   Google Scholar

Taylor, S. E. (1983). Adjustment to threatening events: A theory of cognitive adaptation. American Psychologist, 38(11), 1161–1173. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.38.11.1161   Google Scholar

Ustun, G. (2021). Determining depression and related factors in a society affected by COVID-19 pandemic. The International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 67(1), 54–63. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020764020938807   Google Scholar

Wang, C., Pan, R., Wan, X., Tan, Y., Xu, L., Ho, C. S., & Ho, R. C. (2020). Immediate Psychological Responses and Associated Factors during the Initial Stage of the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Epidemic among the General Population in China. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(5), Article 1729. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17051729   Google Scholar

World Health Organization. (2019). International statistical classification of diseases and related health problems (11th ed.). https://icd.who.int/en   Google Scholar

Zhang, H., Xie, F., Yang, B., Zhao, F., Wang, C., & Chen, X. (2022). Psychological experience of COVID-19 patients: a systematic review and qualitative meta-synthesis. American Journalof Infection Control, 50(7), 809‒819. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2022.01.023   Google Scholar

Download


Published
2023-12-17

Cited by

Mrozowicz-Wrońska, M., Ślosarczyk, K., & Koczurek, M. (2023). Experience of SARS-CoV-2 virus infection and compulsory isolation during the first wave of the pandemic in Poland – a qualitative analysis. The Review of Psychology, 66(2), 107–128. https://doi.org/10.31648/przegldpsychologiczny.9804

Marta Mrozowicz-Wrońska 
Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań; Faculty of Psychology and Cognitive Science
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5228-2148
Katarzyna Ślosarczyk 
The University Hospital in Kraków, Psychiatry Clinical Department for Adults, Children, and Youth
https://orcid.org/0009-0002-8336-6368
Marta Koczurek 
Independent Public Complex of Health Care Facilities Warszawa-Żoliborz, Mental Health Centre
https://orcid.org/0009-0007-6885-7085