Effects of covid-19 on cognitive functioning

Abstract

We were interested in whether the covid-19 pandemic affects cognitive functioning in addition to emotional responses. To this end, we applied four questions related to everyday activities that inevitably involve fluid cognitive abilities, e.g., problems concentrating, remembering, and switching between different mental activities. Respondents self-assessed their cognitive abilities during the covid-19 pandemic compared to the period before the pandemic on a 7-point scale (1 - much easier than before, .. 4 - the same as earlier, .. and 7 - much harder than before). The results showed that, on average, respondents estimated slightly more cognitive problems during the covid-19 pandemic period than before the pandemic (4.21, where 4 means that the respondent does not notice changes). Nearly three-quarters of the respondents(72%) did not report changes in cognitive abilities. In comparison, 7% reported improved cognitive abilities, and as many as 21% of respondents self-assessed that their cognitive abilities deteriorated during the covid-19 pandemic. There were no differences between men and women in terms of self-assessment of cognitive abilities. More significant problems with their cognitive abilities during covid-19 pandemic reported younger as compared to older respondents, students as compared to other employment groups, less educated as compared to more educated, those living alone as compared to those living in the family, those whose financial situation had deteriorated, and, as expected, those with chronic illnesses, and those who also reported depressive and mental health symptoms. The results of the survey indicate the interdependence between different demographic factors, mood and mental health problems, and self-assessed changes in cognition. Therefore, interventions to mitigate the covid-19 pandemic should include peoples' emotional response and their cognitive problems.