Experiences of a global stressor during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study of internal, partner and communal stress experiences across 20 nations

Abstract After the outbreak of COVID-19 in early 2020, individuals worldwide experienced considerable stress associated with the resulting threats and changes. However, only a few large-scale multination studies examined qualitatively the cultural variations of coping responses in people who were in romantic relationships and lived with their partners during the lockdown. To fill this gap, we conducted a qualitative analysis of individual perceptions of intrapersonal, interpersonal, and community stressors. The analysis utilized cross-sectional data collected from 10,650 citizens of 20 countries during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic (March–July 2020). Inductive thematic analysis revealed four main themes related to stressors and one theme related to coping resources: 1) concerns for individual health and well-being; 2) challenges to personal relationships; 3) loss of future time perspective and adaptation to changes; 4) reactions of society, government, and media; and 5) resilience against stress. The findings reflected remarkable homogeneity of stress experiences across various countries and a few but important cultural variations. The mental health implications of the findings are discussed.

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Journal
EXPERIENCE – Journal of Qualitative Research in Mental Health
Published
2026-02-18
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1556/1122.2025.00004
Primary Topic
COVID-19 and Mental Health
Type
article
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article

Experiences of a global stressor during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study of internal, partner and communal stress experiences across 20 nations

Laura Sels, Amos-Silvio Friedrich, Cigdem Topcu-Uzer, Katherine Péloquin et al.
EXPERIENCE – Journal of Qualitative Research in Mental Health
COVID-19 and Mental Health
article

Experiences of a global stressor during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study of internal, partner and communal stress experiences across 20 nations

Laura Sels, Amos-Silvio Friedrich, Cigdem Topcu-Uzer, Katherine Péloquin, Sinead Wearen, Sara Salavati, Tom Burke, Lauren Hocker, Justine Gaugue, C. Michael Hart, Luciana Sotero, Katherine B. Carnelley, Martina Zemp, Marie Géonet, Emanuele Basili, Alda Duarte Portugal, Ana Paula Relvas, Miriam Parise, Susan D. Boon, Ashley K. Randall, Audrey Brassard, Steven Samrock, Lesley Verhofstadt, Sarah Beauchemin-Roy, Evangelos C. Karademas, Manuel Faggiano, Seolah Lee, Stanley O. Gaines, Tiago Azevedo Marot, Adnan Adil, Casey J. Totenhagen, Michael Boiger, Anne Milek, Laura Freischlager, Ariela Francesca Pagani, Claudia Chiarolanza, Michela Baldi, Alessio Masturzi, Christoforos Thomadakis, Eilien Rosalie, Owen L. Stafford, Rahel L. van Eickels, Sarah Galdiolo, Francesca Righetti, Silvia Donato, Louise McHugh, Neele Hermesch, Pingkan C. B. Rumondor, Diana Sînziana Duca, Cornelia Ilciuc, Syifa Fauziah, Sofia Oliveira Major, A. J. Carr, Jean Carlos Natividade, Marie-France Lafontaine, Barani Kanth, Petra Simon-Zámbori, Anna Berry, Roksana Parvin, Martina Bara, Mallika De, Amanda Londero-Santos, Susanna Joo, Eddie Murphy, Laura. K. Taylor, Tamás Martos, Sultan Shujja, S. Burcu Özgülük Üçok, Hayoung Park, Gyesook Yoo, Pauldy C. J. Otermans, Viola Sallay, Jessica Hopkins
article en

Abstract

Abstract After the outbreak of COVID-19 in early 2020, individuals worldwide experienced considerable stress associated with the resulting threats and changes. However, only a few large-scale multination studies examined qualitatively the cultural variations of coping responses in people who were in romantic relationships and lived with their partners during the lockdown. To fill this gap, we conducted a qualitative analysis of individual perceptions of intrapersonal, interpersonal, and community stressors. The analysis utilized cross-sectional data collected from 10,650 citizens of 20 countries during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic (March–July 2020). Inductive thematic analysis revealed four main themes related to stressors and one theme related to coping resources: 1) concerns for individual health and well-being; 2) challenges to personal relationships; 3) loss of future time perspective and adaptation to changes; 4) reactions of society, government, and media; and 5) resilience against stress. The findings reflected remarkable homogeneity of stress experiences across various countries and a few but important cultural variations. The mental health implications of the findings are discussed.

EXPERIENCE – Journal of Qualitative Research in Mental HealthVol. 1(1)
University College Dublin (IE), Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (IT), Sigmund Freud Privatuniversität Wien (AT), Ştefan cel Mare University of Suceava (RO), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (BR), University of Vienna (AT), University of Mons (BE), Université de Sherbrooke (CA), University of Arizona (US), Alexandru Ioan Cuza University (RO), University of Crete (GR), University of Ottawa (CA), Witten/Herdecke University (DE), National University of Ireland, Maynooth (IE), University of Sargodha (PK), University of South Africa (ZA), Binus University (ID), University of Calgary (CA), University of Alabama (US), University of Nicosia (CY), Pondicherry University (IN), Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP) (BR), University of Urbino (IT), Yonsei University (KR), University of Szeged (HU), Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (BR), Ghent University Hospital (BE), University Hospital Galway (IE), Kyung Hee University (KR), Health Service Executive (IE), TED University (TR), International University of Business Agriculture and Technology (BD), Haute École Léonard de Vinci (BE), Cognitive Research (United States) (US), University of Southampton (GB), Government College Women University Sialkot, Arizona State University (US), Universidade da Madeira (PT), Brunel University of London (GB), Université de Montréal (CA), University of Coimbra (PT), Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas (BR), Sapienza University of Rome (IT), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (NL), University of Amsterdam (NL), Ruhr University Bochum (DE), University of Colorado Denver (US), Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo (BR)
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 49%
COVID-19 and Mental Health
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