The occurrence of the psychosomatic symptoms during the coronavirus pandemics.

Most studies on the coronavirus pandemic focus clinical aspects of the COVID-19 disease. However, less attention is paid to other health aspects of the pandemic. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the coronavirus pandemic, together with associated measures taken to combat it, and the occurrence of a wide range of psychosomatic symptoms and to explore if there is any factor that plays a role in this association.

We collected data from a sample of Czech adults (n=1,431) and measured the occurrence of nine health complaints, respondents’ experience during the pandemic and sociodemographic characteristics.

The results showed associations between the coronavirus pandemic/measures and increased psychosomatic symptoms and negative emotions. We further found higher risks of increased health complaints in younger people, women and highly spiritual people. It is also possible that there is higher risk of increased health complaints also for respondent with secondary school education and students, but this relationship has to be further investigated. In contrast, respondents with the highest achieved secondary school education with graduation had a lower risk of increased frequency of stomach ache. We also found that more negative emotions could increase the frequencies of health complaints.

Our findings suggest that the coronavirus pandemic and associated government measures could have a significant influence on the prevalence of health complaints and the emotional state of people.