Examining quality of life among those with adjustment disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced unprecedented levels of stress into the realities of daily living. Many of these stressors, such as job loss and quarantine practices, are of a non-traumatic nature. However, due to threats such as loss of life, some may experience stress of a traumatic nature. The traumatic nature of such high-intensity stressors has the potential to influence the onset of pandemic-related mental health disorders such as adjustment disorders (AD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in some portions of the population. Because the onset of pandemic-related AD and PTSD are relatively new phenomena, little is known about the impacts of these disorders on reported quality of life (QOL) within this context. Thus, it is crucial to further investigate QOL outcomes in relation to pandemic-related AD and PTSD to first foster a greater understanding of the implications of stressor-induced mental health disorders on QOL and to then inform the development of effective interventions for future similar events. This study first seeks to accomplish these goals through the direct administration of a diagnostic tool and self-report quality of life measure to a sample of 200 Canadians. The results of this data collection will be analyzed in a variety of contexts to examine for relationships and differences between QOL outcomes in those with no diagnosis versus those with diagnosable AD or PTSD. Additionally, analyses will examine if these groups report significant differences in any of the four major facets of QOL (physical health, psychological, social relationships, environment). Results of this study will provide a relevant insight into the implications of a mental health disorder on QOL outcomes in the context of a mass-stressor event such as a pandemic.