Quality of life following COVID-19 pneumonia in married and unmarried women

Introduction. During the COVID-19 pandemic, spousal relationships changed significantly, impacting women’s quality of life and mental health. The purpose of this study was to examine the psycho-emotional state and quality of life over time in women of different marital statuses who had experienced COVID-19- related pneumonia. Materials and Methods. The study involved 43 women aged 56 ± 1 years who had experienced COVID-19 pneumonia. Data were collected as part of the ‘One-year cardiac follow-up of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia’ and the “Description and estimation of coping strategies and health attitudes in patients after COVID-19 pneumonia’ studies. Validated questionnaires were used to assess quality of life, psycho-emotional state, and personality traits. Results. Among participants, 62.8 % were married. Married women exhibited higher anxiety levels one year post-recovery (p = 0.001; 4.00 [4.00; 7.00] vs. 2.00 [2.00; 4.00] in unmarried women). Over two years, depression severity decreased in unmarried women (p = 0.026), while anxiety decreased in married women (p = 0.036). Married women scored higher on extraversion (p = 0.048) and emotionality (p = 0.043). In unmarried women, the psychological health component depended on depression and anxiety (R² = 0.667; β = –1.875, p = 0.012 and R² = 0.667; β = –4.538, p < 0.001, respectively), while the physical health component depended on extraversion intensity (R² = 0.274; β = 0.610, p = 0.004). In married women, the psychological health component depended on depression (R² = 0.420; β = –1.875, p = 0.012), stress (R² = 0.427; β = –1.111, p = 0.002), and emotional restraint (R² = 0.470; β = –0.386, p = 0.039), while the physical health component depended on extraversion intensity (R² = 0.483; β = 0.372, p = 0.039). Conclusions. Married women after COVID-19 pneumonia demonstrated increased emotionality, which manifested in the severity of anxiety and depression during the first year after recovery. Their emotional state and the life quality psychological aspect are associated with persistent tension. In unmarried women, these parameters are associated with the severity of the negative affect. In both groups, the physical aspect of life quality was associated with higher levels of extraversion. The emotional state of unmarried women was associated with the maladaptive use of coping strategies. Overall, quality of life and emotional state in both groups did not depend on the somatic condition after COVID-19.