Fig. 2
Perceived changes in stress and clinical relevance during first COVID-19 lockdown. N=396 adult participants. Lengths of the single bars (comprising shaded and non-shaded parts) represent the relative frequencies of individually perceived decreases, no changes, and increases in subareas of perceived stress during first lockdown in comparison to before the COVID-19 pandemic. Lengths of the shaded parts within the single bars represent the respective percentage of participants whose level of perceived stress during lockdown reached clinical relevance thresholds. The non-shaded parts of the single bars represent the respective percentage of participants whose level of perceived stress during lockdown was below clinical relevance thresholds. To determine frequencies of perceived decreases, no changes, and increases in subscales of perceived stress, a modified version of the PSQ-20 was used to assess how people feel their stress has changed during lockdown in comparison to before the pandemic on item level (change values; –2 much less than before corona; +2 much more than before corona). Change indices (–2 strong decrease; +2 strong increase) were calculated for each participant and each outcome variable by averaging the change values for the respective subscales’ questionnaire items, and were grouped into three change categories (–2.00 to –0.50 decrease; –0.49 to +0.49 no change; +0.50 to +2.00 increase). The original version of PSQ-20 was used to measure the intensity of worries, tension, joy, and demands during first COVID-19 lockdown. To determine the clinical relevance of these subscales of perceived stress during lockdown, the participants’ questionnaire scores were classified as above or below clinical significance thresholds calculated in reference to a clinical sample from the literature (≥46.37 for PSQ-20 total, ≥44.84 for PSQ-20 worries, ≥45.77 for PSQ-20 tension, ≥44.66 for PSQ-20 joy, and ≥40.02 for PSQ-20 demands). The subscale joy was inverted for presentation in this figure, indicating lack of joy.