Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 26, 2026

Assessing Respiratory Immune Responses to Haemophilus Influenzae

Assessing Respiratory Immune Responses to Haemophilus Influenzae

Published on: June 29, 2021

Exploring the association of respiratory infection aetiology with mental well-being scores: a longitudinal study

Abigail Murfitt¹, Alike W van der Velden², Femke Böhmer³

¹University College Dublin School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, Dublin, Ireland.

Frontiers in Psychology

|August 25, 2026

Abstract

Background:

Acute respiratory infections can disrupt both physical and psychological well-being. This study aimed to examine whether mental well-being differed according to respiratory infection aetiology during the first year of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and to identify factors associated with mental well-being over time.

Methods:

This prospective observational cohort study included 819 adults from nine European countries recruited during 2020 and 2021 as part of the SOS-COVID study. Mental well-being was assessed using the WHO-5 Well-Being Index at day 7 and day 28 following enrolment. Respiratory infection aetiology was classified as SARS-CoV-2, other viral infection, or no virus detected, and additionally grouped as SARS-CoV-2 versus no SARS-CoV-2 detected. Linear mixed-effects models with patients nested within countries examined associations between infection type and well-being scores, adjusting for age, recovery duration and time period.

Results:

Median WHO-5 well-being scores increased from 13 at day 7 to 18 at day 28. Participants with SARS-CoV-2 infection reported lower median well-being scores (12 and 17 at day 7 and day 28, respectively) compared with other viral infections (15 and 19), non-SARS-CoV-2 infections (13 and 18), and no virus detected (13 and 17). In adjusted analyses, lower day 28 well-being was associated with longer recovery duration (coef = -0.1, 95% CI: -0.2 to -0.1), SARS-CoV-2 infection (coef = -1.1, 95% CI: -1.8 to -0.3), recruitment during July to September and October to December 2020, and increasing age. Approximately 32% of variance in well-being occurred at the country level.

Conclusion:

SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with lower mental well-being scores, particularly 1 month following enrolment, compared with other respiratory infection groups. Recovery duration and recruitment period also influenced well-being outcomes, suggesting that both infection-specific and contextual pandemic-related factors contributed to reduced mental well-being.

Keywords:

SARS-CoV-2 infection types mental well-being post infection well-being well-being

More Related Videos

Real-World M3-BREATHE: Toward Multimodal Mobile Monitoring of Behaviour, Respiration, and Exposures for Treatment and Health Evaluation

Real-World M3-BREATHE: Toward Multimodal Mobile Monitoring of Behaviour, Respiration, and Exposures for Treatment and Health Evaluation

Published on: June 5, 2026

Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels

Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels

Published on: August 7, 2017

Related Concept Videos

Assessment of Respiration

Assessment of Respiration

The respiratory system's basic structures and primary functions lay the foundation for nurses' comprehensive respiratory assessments. This assessment includes subjective and objective data to gauge the patient's respiratory health.
Subjective Assessment: Nurses interview the patient to gather information directly during the subjective assessment. It includes questions about the individual's medical history, medications, and symptoms, focusing on past respiratory conditions like asthma or COPD,...

Physical Assessment of the Respiratory Tract I: Health History

Physical Assessment of the Respiratory Tract I: Health History

Physical assessment of the respiratory tract is critical to patient care. It allows healthcare professionals to identify and manage various respiratory conditions. The process involves a combination of subjective and objective data collection.
Subjective Data
Subjective data provides vital information about the patient's health history and symptoms. This data is typically collected through interviews in which patients describe their experiences, symptoms, and concerns.
Health history and key...

Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract

Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract

The human respiratory tract, comprising the upper and lower segments, serves as a critical interface with the external environment. The upper respiratory tract (URT)—including the nostrils, sinuses, pharynx, and oropharynx—is heavily colonized by microbes, while the lower respiratory tract (LRT), composed of the larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs, was long thought to be sterile. However, recent molecular studies have revealed that the lungs are not devoid of microbes but act more like...

Asthma I: Introduction

Asthma I: Introduction

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways characterized by variable airflow obstruction and heightened bronchial responsiveness to a wide range of triggers. The underlying inflammation leads to airway swelling, mucus hypersecretion, and smooth muscle constriction, all of which narrow the airway lumen and impede airflow. Clinically, asthma presents with recurrent episodes of wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing, symptoms that typically vary in intensity and...

Respiratory Assessment: Purpose and Indications

Respiratory Assessment: Purpose and Indications

Respiratory assessment is a cornerstone of nursing assessments, crucial for the early detection of patient deterioration. This evaluation transcends routine procedures, representing a critical skill nurses must master to ensure optimal patient care.
Objectives and Importance:
The primary goal of respiratory assessment is to evaluate patients at early risk of clinical deterioration. Since respiratory distress often precedes other signs of declining health, breathing patterns and sounds become a...

Assessment of Ventilation II: Respiratory Depth and Rhythm

Assessment of Ventilation II: Respiratory Depth and Rhythm

Respiratory Depth
Respiratory depth measures the volume of air inhaled or exhaled during a breath. It can vary from shallow to deep and typically remains consistent when a person is at rest or asleep. Occasionally, individuals will automatically inhale deeply, known as sighing, which inflates the lungs with more air than normal breathing.
To assess respiratory depth, observe the degree of chest excursion or movement:

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Advance care planning in people with intellectual disabilities, more than 'to resuscitate or not to resuscitate': A qualitative interview study with general practitioners and family caregivers.

The European journal of general practice·2026

Impact of a multifaceted intervention programme on antibiotic prescribing in out-of-hours primary care in five European countries: secondary analyses of the HAPPY PATIENT project.

JAC-antimicrobial resistance·2026

Viral interference with SARS-CoV-2 during the COVID-19 pandemic: An individual participant data meta-analysis.

Epidemiology and infection·2026

Consultations, (antibiotic) prescriptions, and productivity losses of patients with community-acquired respiratory tract infection: country-specific findings from the PRUDENCE trial.

The European journal of health economics : HEPAC : health economics in prevention and care·2026

Irish Travellers' Cancer Awareness and Engagement With Prevention, Screening and Early Diagnosis: A Qualitative Study of Barriers and Enablers.

Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy·2026

Quality of Life Changes in Respiratory Infection Trajectory with Point of Care Testing During Clinical Consultation.

ClinicoEconomics and outcomes research : CEOR·2026

See all related articles