Themes | Description |
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Pandemic fatigue versus pandemic acclimatisation | The continuous nature of the pandemic and lockdown restrictions led to an increase in mental exhaustion and low mood for some participants during the second lockdown. Other participants expressed that their mental health improved during the second lockdown because they felt they had been able to acclimatise to the situation |
Social interaction and isolation | Social interaction, including virtual communication, had a positive impact on mental health, whilst social isolation had a negative impact |
Clarity of information | Clear information about COVID-19 and the recommended ‘shielding’ guidelines, helped to reduce emotional distress for IA patients A lack of clear information, either due to the limited amount of information available at the time or due to information being disseminated late, led to an increase in stress and anxiety for participants |
Seasonal changes | Seasonal changes, such as poorer weather and darker days, led to some participants experiencing increased negative affect during the second lockdown |