Table 3.
Emotional Challenges During the COVID-19 Pandemic
| Themes | Exemplar Quotes From Participant Interviews | |
|---|---|---|
| Due to fear of contracting COVID-19 | ||
| PHQ 4 score 0-5 | PHQ-4 score 6-12 | |
| Fear of contracting COVID-19, because of a weakened immune system. | “I'm afraid of getting the flu. I'm afraid of getting anything … I know my body has a hard time fighting it because it's immunosuppressed. So yes, I'm afraid of getting it and that's why I'm not exposing myself.” - Transplant Patient 9 | “… I guess the fear of getting it and, and not overcoming it because of, you know, the health situation that I have.” - Transplant Patient 52 |
| Increased vigilance due to being immunocompromised led to increased anxiety levels. | “Just like when I’m in – when I do have to go into the grocery store. People don't honor the 6 feet social distancing. People are wearing the mask wrong, and it's just like my anxiety just kicked in. That's it.” - Transplant Patient 704 | “And at this point, it's just causing an incredible amount of anxiety because school starts in 3 weeks … it really is taking a toll on mental health just constantly trying to be like, how am I going to protect myself?” - Transplant Patient 1022 |
| Due to actions taken to prevent exposure to COVID-19 | ||
| Staying at home resulting in extreme isolation and anxiety or panic attacks. | “Just, I would say extreme isolation. I live by myself and I'm single. So, I haven't seen, I haven't had interaction with another human really since March 9th" - Transplant Patient 86 | “… first time in my life I was ever had a panic anxiety attack at 44 years old after being a Marine. And everything in my life. I've never panicked and had a panic attack until I was in isolation due to COVID.” - Transplant Patient 13 |
| Increased vigilance led to patients having strained relationships with family members. | “It's affecting my family as well. You know my husband because he still has to go to work. And because I'm too cautious and I, I worry and too scared that, he's bringing the virus in, and then might infect me. And I can't let my daughter like I have, you know it's strained my relationship with my daughter because I don't let her go out and then always because I worry that you show–that she goes out and meet her friends and it puts me at risk.” - Transplant patient 52 | |
Abbreviation: COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019.