Public health model in the context of new biological threats: a case of COVID-19

Cover Page

Cite item

Full Text

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The effect of new biological threats, such as COVID-19, on public health is still understudied. The development of an adapted public health model is an urgent scientific task. By integrating the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic, such model would enable a systematic mitigation of similar risks in the future.

AIM: This study aimed to develop and validate a health model by identifying key biopsychosocial factors affecting physical and mental health in the post-COVID period.

METHODS: To collect empirical data (n = 337), we used an original proprietary questionnaire and Diener’s Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). The SWLS included self-assessments of physical and mental health in the post-COVID period, physical activity and communicative behavior, perceptions of the pandemic’s effects on various life domains, demographic parameters, and chronic disease status.

RESULTS: The findings show that all three types of factors, including biological, social, and psychological, affect both subjective physical and mental health with psychological factors having the greatest effect. The study highlights the significant contribution of psychological variables to the assessment of an individual’s health in the post-COVID period. Specifically, emotional stability and communicative behavior were the most significant factors of both physical and mental health during this time.

CONCLUSION: The model developed and validated in this study expands the understanding of post-COVID health status by integrating biological, social, and psychological factors. The study may be used as a basis for updating clinical guidelines and developing new targeted rehabilitation strategies.

About the authors

Anastasia A. Danilova

Chelyabinsk State University

Author for correspondence.
Email: ensti1988@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-6701-1941
SPIN-code: 1935-7301

Cand. Sci. (Pedagogics)

Russian Federation, Chelyabinsk

Elena A. Kuba

Chelyabinsk State University

Email: ipipelena@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-5407-859X
SPIN-code: 9777-5920
Russian Federation, Chelyabinsk

Ekaterina V. Zabelina

Chelyabinsk State University

Email: katya_k@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-2365-6016
SPIN-code: 2011-8089

Dr. Sci. (Psychology), Associate Professor

Russian Federation, Chelyabinsk

Irina A. Trushina

Chelyabinsk State University

Email: trushina_ia@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-5001-5927
SPIN-code: 5275-5312

Cand. Sci. (Pedagogics), Associate Professor

Russian Federation, Chelyabinsk

References

  1. Ahmed MZ, Ahmed O, Aibao Z, et al. Epidemic of COVID-19 in China and associated psychological problems. Asian J Psychiatr. 2020;51:102092. doi: 10.1016/j.ajp.2020.102092
  2. Kim NH, Lee JM, Yoo J. How the COVID-19 pandemic has changed adolescent health: physical activity, sleep, obesity, and mental health. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(15):9224. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19159224
  3. Mazza MG, De Lorenzo R, Conte C, et al. Anxiety and depression in COVID-19 survivors: role of inflammatory and clinical predictors. Brain Behav Immun. 2020;89:594–600. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2020.07.037
  4. Gritsenko V, Marinova T, Skugarevsky O, et al. COVID 19 fear, stress, anxiety, and substance use among Russian and Belarusian University students. Int J Ment Health Addict. 2021;19(6):2362–2368. doi: 10.1007/s11469-020-00330-z EDN: NFWNTH
  5. Hampshire A, Trender W, Chamberlain SR, et al. Cognitive deficits in people who have recovered from COVID-19. EClinicalMedicine. 2021;39:101044. doi: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2021.101044
  6. Okabe-Miyamoto K, Folk D, Lyubomirsky S, Dunn EW. Changes in social connection during COVID-19 social distancing: It’s not (household) size that matters, it’s who you’re with. PLoS One. 2021;16(1):e0245009. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0245009
  7. Ventriglio A, Castaldelli-Maia JM, Torales J, et al. Personal and social changes in the time of COVID-19. Ir J Psychol Med. 2021;38(4):315–317. doi: 10.1017/ipm.2021.23
  8. Engel GL. The clinical application of the biopsychosocial model. Am J Psychiatry. 1980;137(5):535–544. doi: 10.1176/ajp.137.5.535
  9. Diener E, Sapyta JJ, Suh E. Subjective well being is essential to well-being. Psychological Inquiry. 1998;9(1):33–37. doi: 10.1207/s15327965pli0901_3
  10. Osin EN, Leontiev DA. Brief Russian-language instruments to measure subjective well-being: psychometric properties and comparative analysis. Monitoring of Public Opinion: Economic and Social Changes. 2020;(1): 117–142. doi: 10.14515/monitoring.2020.1.06. EDN: FLYPFH
  11. Nasledov AD. Mathematical methods of psychological research: data analysis and interpretation. Saint Petersburg: Rech’; 2006. 389 р. (In Russ.) EDN: QXPNHF
  12. Jin JM, Bai P, He W, et al. Gender differences in patients with COVID-19: Focus on severity and mortality. Front Public Health. 2020;8:152. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2020.00152
  13. Dudley JP, Lee NT. Disparities in age-specific morbidity and mortality from SARS-CoV-2 in China and the Republic of Korea. Clin Infect Dis. 2020;71(15):863–865. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciaa354
  14. Chen Y, Klein SL, Garibaldi BT, et al. Aging in COVID-19: Vulnerability, immunity and intervention. Ageing Res Rev. 2021;65:101205. doi: 10.1016/j.arr.2020.101205
  15. Alkhouli M, Nanjundappa A, Annie F, et al. Sex differences in case fatality rate of COVID-19: insights from a multinational registry. Mayo Clin Proc. 2020;95(8):1613–1620. doi: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2020.05.014
  16. Haitao T, Vermunt JV, Abeykoon J, et al. COVID-19 and sex differences: mechanisms and biomarkers. Mayo Clin Proc. 2020;95(10):2189–2203. doi: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2020.07.024
  17. Ferretti VV, Klersy C, Bruno R, et al. Men with COVID-19 die. Women survive. Maturitas. 2022;158:34–36. doi: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2021.11.014
  18. Gebhard CE, Hamouda N, Gebert P, et al. Sex versus gender-related characteristics: which predicts clinical outcomes of acute COVID-19. Intensive Care Med. 2022;48(11):1652–1655. doi: 10.1007/s00134-022-06836-5
  19. Karnadipa T, Pratama AD, Pahlawi R, et al. Clinical indicators for predicting physical activity levels in long-term COVID-19: Insights from physical exertion and oxygen saturation. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2025;42:198–204. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2024.11.031
  20. Kosendiak AA, Wasilewski A, Kasprzak A, et al. Level of knowledge, nutritional habits, use of stimulants, and physical activity during the COVID-19 epidemic among students of physiotherapy at Wroclaw Medical University. Nutrition. 2024;117:112247. doi: 10.1016/j.nut.2023.112247
  21. Fosco GM, Lee H, Feinberg ME, et al. COVID-19 family dynamics and health protective behavior adherence: A 16-wave longitudinal study. Health Psychol. 2023;42(10):756–765. doi: 10.1037/hea0001313
  22. Sterman J, Merighi J. «It’s been a hard year»: How families who have children with disabilities and chronic health conditions experience the COVID-19 pandemic. Children and Youth Services Review. 2024;164:107858. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2024.107858
  23. Velpen I, Melis R, Hussainali RF, et al. Determinants of social health trajectories during the COVID-19 pandemic in older adults: the Rotterdam Study. Int Psychogeriatr. 2024;36(8):628–642. doi: 10.1017/S1041610221002891
  24. Zsido AN, Arato N, Inhof O, et al. Psychological well-being, risk factors, and coping strategies with social isolation and new challenges in times of adversity caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Acta Psychol. 2022;225:103538. doi: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2022.103538
  25. Loleka BY, Ogawa K. Influence of the level of education on women’s knowledge, attitude, and practices to control the transmission of COVID-19 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Sci Afr. 2022;17:e01299. doi: 10.1016/j.sciaf.2022.e01299
  26. Tang S, Liu X, Jia Y, et al. Education level modifies parental hesitancy about COVID-19 vaccinations for their children. Vaccine. 2023;41(2):496–503. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.11.060
  27. McGill MG, Purkey E, Davison CM, et al. Financial stress during COVID-19: implications for parenting behaviour and child well-being. BMJ Paediat Open. 2022;6(1):e001569. doi: 10.1136/bmjpo-2022-001569
  28. Rodriguez J, Quintana Y. Understanding the social determinants of health and genetic factors contributing to the differences observed in COVID-19 incidence and mortality between underrepresented and other communities. J Natl Med Assoc. 2022;114(4):430–439. doi: 10.1016/j.jnma.2022.04.002
  29. Li N, Li S, Fan L. Risk factors of psychological disorders after the COVID-19 outbreak: the mediating role of social support and emotional intelligence. J Adolesc Health. 2021;69(5):696–704. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2021.07.018
  30. Bokhan TG, Galazhinsky EV, Leontiev DA, et al. COVID-19 and subjective well-being: perceived impact, positive psychological resources and protective behavior. Psychology. Journal of the Higher School of Economics. 2021;18(2):259–275. doi: 10.17323/1813-8918-2021-2-259-275 EDN: OVUHJX
  31. Rolón V, Geher G, Link J, Mackiel A. Personality correlates of COVID-19 infection proclivity: Extraversion kills. Pers Individ Dif. 2021;180:110994. doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2021.110994
  32. Sugaya N, Yamamoto T, Suzuki N, Uchiumi C. The transition of social isolation and related psychological factors in 2 mild lockdown periods during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan: longitudinal survey study. JMIR Public Health Surveill. 2022;8(3):e32694. doi: 10.2196/32694

Supplementary files

Supplementary Files
Action
1. JATS XML
Download

Copyright (c) 2026 Eco-Vector

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
 


Согласие на обработку персональных данных

 

Используя сайт https://journals.rcsi.science, я (далее – «Пользователь» или «Субъект персональных данных») даю согласие на обработку персональных данных на этом сайте (текст Согласия) и на обработку персональных данных с помощью сервиса «Яндекс.Метрика» (текст Согласия).