As the world enters year three of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is still unclear how close the finish line is. As of April 2022, some countries are quickly recovering from the rapid surge in cases caused by the Omicron variant of SARS-Cov-2, while others are still facing a wave. In the US, there were over 800,000 new cases recorded per day for several days in mid-January, a far higher number than in any previous wave, but hospitalizations and deaths remained relatively low, due in part to high vaccination rates, and infections quickly dropped in February and March [1]. The uncertainty of a novel, evolving, and lingering public health threat have led to widespread ‘pandemic fatigue,’ defined in a WHO report as “demotivation to follow recommended protective behaviours” that emerges gradually over time [2]. Conversation about this phenomenon had already begun toward the end of summer in 2020 and continues to be relevant now. Here’s what you should know about pandemic fatigue:
First, fatigue and demotivation are natural and expected as a crisis (in this case, a pandemic) drags on. Adaptive responses to acute stresses are not sustainable long term and must be exchanged for different coping strategies [2]. The ‘General Adaptation Syndrome’ is commonly used to describe how a living organism tends to respond to stress over time, dividing the response into three stages: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion [3]. Stressors can often be adapted to in the short term, but prolonged exposure leads to a depletion of resources and energy [4]. This concept has also been applied to people’s psychological exhaustion in the face of chronic stress.
WHO identifies several core factors contributing to pandemic fatigue that both health officials and the general population should know about. As we get used to the presence of COVID-19, the perceived threat of the virus decreased, even if actual risk increases, and this desensitization tends to increase complacency. In addition, the losses that people feel due to pandemic-related restrictions accumulate. Furthermore, it is natural to seek a sense of control and freedom in one’s decisions, which are limited by the pandemic and pandemic restrictions respectively [2].
Indeed, research has found that adherence to protective measures has changed over time. One study examined mask wearing and social distancing between March and December 2020, using both survey data and official policies from governments. Overall, mask wearing – a low-cost behavior that is easy to get used to – increased linearly in that time period, whereas social distancing – a high-cost behavior – decreased, though with small rebounds [5].
Public health officials and healthcare providers have also sought to combat and/or reduce pandemic fatigue through a number of different strategies. In terms of policy, it is important to engage affected populations in solutions, such as by working with and developing community leaders, and helping people take control of their behavior where possible. It is also important to protect important components of normal life as much as possible while still reducing infection risk [2]. For individuals, safely staying connected with others, seeking help when needed, and focusing on what can be controlled are ways to reduce pandemic fatigue [6]. Exhaustion with the situation can grow subconsciously, but knowledge about this phenomenon helps us recognize the signs and take steps against carelessness.
References
[1] “Coronavirus in the U.S.: Latest Map and Case Count,” New York Times. Updated April 16, 2022. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/us/covid-cases.html
[2] WHO Regional Office for Europe. Pandemic fatigue – Reinvigorating the public to prevent COVID-19. 2020. World Health Organization. https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/335820/WHO-EURO-2020-1160-40906-55390-eng.pdf
[3] Selye H. A Syndrome produced by Diverse Nocuous Agents. Nature. 1936, vol. 138, p. 32. https://www.nature.com/articles/138032a0.pdf
[4] Selye H. Stress and the General Adaptation Syndrome. British Medical Journal. 1950, vol. 1(4667), p. 1383–1392. doi:10.1136/bmj.1.4667.1383
[5] Petherick A, Goldszmidt R, Andrade EB, et al. A worldwide assessment of changes in adherence to COVID-19 protective behaviours and hypothesized pandemic fatigue. Nature Human Behaviour. 2021, vol. 5, p. 1145–1160. doi:10.1038/s41562-021-01181-x
[6]. Berg S. “What doctors wish patients knew about pandemic fatigue,” American Medical Association. January 29, 2021. https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/public-health/what-doctors-wish-patients-knew-about-pandemic-fatigue
