Some risk factors that may put a person at higher risk of developing an AD by intensifying the effect of the stressor during the Covid-19 pandemic are:
- Older age
- Being at severe risk of Covid-19
- Poor general health
- Trauma exposure, either current or previous
- Mental health disorder, either current or previous
- Longer exposure to Covid related news
- Women are more likely to develop an AD during Covid

New York University

Covid-19 exposes an individual to a wide array of stressors such as quarantine, physical distancing, job loss, risk of infection, and loss of a loved one; all of which have the potential to create symptoms of adjustment disorder in that particular individual. 

Adjustment Disorders During Covid-19

Annett Lotzin, Linda Krause, Elena Acquarini, Dean Ajdukovic, Vittoria Ardino, Filip Arnberg, Maria Böttche, Maria Bragesjö, Małgorzata Dragan, Margarida Figueiredo-Braga, Odeta Gelezelyte, Piotr Grajewski, Xenia Anastassiou-Hadjicharalambous, Jana Darejan Javakhishvili, Evaldas Kazlauskas, Lonneke Lenferink, Chrysanthi Lioupi, Brigitte Lueger-Schuster, Lela Tsiskarishvili, Trudy Mooren, Luisa Sales, Aleksandra Stevanovic, Irina Zrnic, Ingo Schäfer & ADJUST Study Consortium (2021) Risk and protective factors, stressors, and symptoms of adjustment disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic – First results of the ESTSS COVID-19 pan-European ADJUST study, European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 12:1, DOI: 10.1080/20008198.2021.1964197


Risk and protective factors, stressors, and symptoms of adjustment disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic – First results of the ESTSS COVID-19 pan-European ADJUST study

Covid Related Risk Factors for Adjustment Disorder

Some factors that may shield or buffer a person from developing an AD during Covid-19 are:
- Higher-income
- Being retired
- Having more in-person contact with loved ones/ friends 

Covid Related Protective Factors for Adjustment Disorder

Some pandemic-related stressors that are associated with higher levels of Adjustment Disorder symptoms are: 
- Fear of infection
- Government crisis management
- Limited social contact/activity
- Work-related issues (job loss)
- Housing related issues

Pandemic-Related Stressors Associated with Higher levels of Adjustment Disorder/ Adjustment Disorder Symptoms

These risk/protective factors made no difference in the amount of Adjustment Disorder symptoms someone may/may not have displayed:

- Level of education
- Reduced income due to the Covid-19 pandemic 
- Financial support from the government 
- Spending more time at home due to the Covid-19 pandemic
- Hours spent outside the home
- Time spent engaging in digital social contact

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