It seems somewhat self-evident that the restrictions put in place to slow the spread of the Covid-19 virus have had an impact on our mental health.  The scale of this input is highlighted, however, by new research from Durham University Business School, which surveyed people from France, Germany, the UK, Canada, and the United States.

The researchers spoke to participants throughout June 2020 to understand their perceptions of the pandemic and the actual impact it was having on their lives.

The study found that adaptability and resilience were significant factors in the successful management of the stress caused by the pandemic, and especially on their engagement at work.

Surprising resilience

Interestingly, however, there was no real evidence that working in stressful roles in areas such as healthcare or having to homeschool children influenced the perceptions those people had of the lockdown and the impact of it on their mental wellbeing.

“It’s true that many workers encountered new demands on their time, such as needing to learn new tech like Zoom or navigating makeshift work procedures, and new financial demands as well as facing the loss of essential financial resources,” the researchers say. “However, the shift created a series of trade-offs for most people. There were different constraints on the way people allocated their time, energy and money that did not necessarily lead to negative consequences.”

For instance, people who would ordinarily have a long commute reported having a better work-life balance as well as reduced travel costs.  Similarly, many with insecure work were able to benefit from government financial support to ease the burden.

Instead, the key factor seems to be the differences in individual resilience between each person.  Regardless of personal circumstances, those who were better prepared for flexible work and remote living fared best.

Protecting our mental wellbeing

The researchers believe that their work provides valuable insights into how we can protect our mental wellbeing, as well as lessons for both employers and governments.

For instance, it’s vital that we appreciate the key role personal resources, such as time, money, and energy, play in buffering the stresses caused by things such as a pandemic.  Equally, businesses should try and better understand the individual differences of employees, and the resources they have (or don’t have) that will impact their work.

A great emphasis on mental health in the workplace can also be highly effective, whether by helping employees recognize the signs or having a more open and accepting culture around the discussion of mental health issues at work.

“Given the dynamic nature of lockdowns and restrictions, it is important to track how people in various parts of the world are responding to the crisis and its effects on individual health,” the researchers conclude. “Our findings have important implications for individuals, organizations, and society as a whole.”