Table 2.
Factors affecting mood in participants
| Factors that had a positive influence | % Study participants who report a positive influence on mood (n = /579) in May | % Study participants who report a positive influence on mood (n = /579) in August |
|---|---|---|
| More time at home/with family | 68 (393) | 69 (400) |
| Reduced responsibilities/more free time | 59 (342) | 54 (314) |
| Participant and family members remained unaffected from COVID-19 | 56 (323) | 60 (346) |
| Time away from work/university | 46 (269) | 56 (323) |
| Cancelled/open book exams | 43 (247) | 38 (218) |
| Opportunities for paid work | 24 (138) | 27 (159) |
| Improvements in physical health | 20 (113) | 22 (126) |
| Online learning | 19 (109) | 24 (137) |
| Improved financial status | 14 (83) | 18 (104) |
| Volunteering opportunities | 13 (73) | 11 (63) |
| Increase in research opportunities | 4 (26) | 5 (27) |
| Relaxation of measures imposed to control the spread of COVID-19 | 51(298) | |
| Reduction in COVID-19 cases in the UK | 43 (250) | |
| Return to face-to-face teaching | 11 (65) | |
| More medical school teaching | 5 (27) | |
| Other factors | 4 (23) | 2 (13) |
| Factors that had a negative influence on mood | % Study participants who report a negative influence on mood (n = /579) in May | % study participants who report a negative influence on mood (n = /579) in August |
| Social distancing | 81 (467) | 67 (388) |
| Reports on social media and news outlets | 73 (424) | 73 (424) |
| Self-isolation | 59 (344) | 52 (303) |
| Holiday cancelled | 53 (307) | 46 (265) |
| Social exclusion | 41 (235) | 33 (191) |
| Financial worries | 29 (165) | 31 (177) |
| Career uncertainty | 27 (155) | 17 (99) |
| Relatives or friends getting infected | 20 (117) | 13 (75) |
| Elective cancelled | 18 (105) | 18 (105) |
| Deterioration of physical health | 13 (76) | 12 (68) |
| Reduction in research opportunities | 12 (70) | 12 (72) |
| Strain of wearing protective equipment | 9 (51) | 17 (97) |
| High demands in the work setting | 9 (50) | 12 (72) |
| Recent bereavement of someone you know from COVID-19 | 7 (40) | 7 (39) |
| Stigmatisation | 7 (40) | 7 (38) |
| Getting infected | 5 (31) | 6 (32) |
| Uncertainty related to medical education | 67 (388) | |
| Changes to medical education | 66 (384) | |
| Uncertainty related to examinations | 60 (345) | |
| Other factors | 17 (99) | 8 (46) |