Life-event-induced changes in daily routines: Their association with the manifestation of dysphoric emotions

Abstract

Life events are usually followed by significant changes in the everyday routines of the affected individuals. In this study, we investigated the association of the changes in daily activities caused by the strict COVID-19 lockdown measures adopted in Greece to people’s psycho-emotional adjustment. A new measure, the everyday life change index (ELCI), was administered to 853 adults, while their psychological distress was measured with the depression-anxiety-stress scale (DASS-21). Results showed that the greater the changes a person experienced in their daily life due to lockdown, the higher the symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress they manifested. We suggest that life-event-induced changes in routine activities could be a meaningful measure for clinical practice.