A data set for mental and physical stress, loneliness, and life satisfaction before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and the role of working from home

Abstract Objectives To examine mental and physical health, loneliness, and life satisfaction in East Germany, data were collected at four time points: in 2017/2018, 2019/2020, 2021, and 2022. Changes in data before and during the COVID-19 pandemic were determined using validated short scales. Additi...

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Main Authors: Franziska Emmerich, Julia Junghans, Markus Zenger, Elmar Brähler, Yve Stöbel-Richter, Lisa Irmscher, Ernst Peter Richter, Hendrik Berth
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Research Notes
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-025-07329-6
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author Franziska Emmerich
Julia Junghans
Markus Zenger
Elmar Brähler
Yve Stöbel-Richter
Lisa Irmscher
Ernst Peter Richter
Hendrik Berth
author_facet Franziska Emmerich
Julia Junghans
Markus Zenger
Elmar Brähler
Yve Stöbel-Richter
Lisa Irmscher
Ernst Peter Richter
Hendrik Berth
author_sort Franziska Emmerich
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Objectives To examine mental and physical health, loneliness, and life satisfaction in East Germany, data were collected at four time points: in 2017/2018, 2019/2020, 2021, and 2022. Changes in data before and during the COVID-19 pandemic were determined using validated short scales. Additionally, a newly developed questionnaire was integrated in 2022 to depict working from home (WFH). Data description The data set is part of the Saxon Longitudinal Study (SLS), first conducted in 1987 in the former German Democratic Republic and has been continued almost annually, consisting of 33 waves since then (N > 300). As an East German sample, the SLS offers a long-term perspective on psychological and physical health. The extent of mental health can be interpreted based on validated short scales D-Score (Distress Score), PHQ-4 (Patient Health Questionnaire-4), LS-S (Loneliness Scale), L-1 (Short Scale of Life Satisfaction), and a Corona Anxiety Scale. The physical strain can be interpreted based on the answers to the G-Score, SSS-8 (Somatic Symptom Scale), and an individual item on health status. The questionnaire on WFH allows comparisons between participants WFH and those who did not. This dataset will contribute to further research into events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and their impact.
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spelling doaj-art-9b977a2cd2db4614b74c70d5d7efd7502025-08-20T03:03:23ZengBMCBMC Research Notes1756-05002025-07-011811410.1186/s13104-025-07329-6A data set for mental and physical stress, loneliness, and life satisfaction before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and the role of working from homeFranziska Emmerich0Julia Junghans1Markus Zenger2Elmar Brähler3Yve Stöbel-Richter4Lisa Irmscher5Ernst Peter Richter6Hendrik Berth7Division of Psychological and Social Medicine and Developmental Neurosciences, Research Group Applied Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Faculty of Medicine, TUD Dresden University of TechnologyDivision of Psychological and Social Medicine and Developmental Neurosciences, Research Group Applied Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Faculty of Medicine, TUD Dresden University of TechnologyDepartment of Differential and Personality Psychology, University of Applied Sciences Magdeburg-StendalDepartment of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center MainzFaculty of Managerial and Cultural Studies, University of Applied Sciences Zittau/GörlitzDivision of Psychological and Social Medicine and Developmental Neurosciences, Research Group Applied Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Faculty of Medicine, TUD Dresden University of TechnologyDivision of Psychological and Social Medicine and Developmental Neurosciences, Research Group Applied Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Faculty of Medicine, TUD Dresden University of TechnologyDivision of Psychological and Social Medicine and Developmental Neurosciences, Research Group Applied Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Faculty of Medicine, TUD Dresden University of TechnologyAbstract Objectives To examine mental and physical health, loneliness, and life satisfaction in East Germany, data were collected at four time points: in 2017/2018, 2019/2020, 2021, and 2022. Changes in data before and during the COVID-19 pandemic were determined using validated short scales. Additionally, a newly developed questionnaire was integrated in 2022 to depict working from home (WFH). Data description The data set is part of the Saxon Longitudinal Study (SLS), first conducted in 1987 in the former German Democratic Republic and has been continued almost annually, consisting of 33 waves since then (N > 300). As an East German sample, the SLS offers a long-term perspective on psychological and physical health. The extent of mental health can be interpreted based on validated short scales D-Score (Distress Score), PHQ-4 (Patient Health Questionnaire-4), LS-S (Loneliness Scale), L-1 (Short Scale of Life Satisfaction), and a Corona Anxiety Scale. The physical strain can be interpreted based on the answers to the G-Score, SSS-8 (Somatic Symptom Scale), and an individual item on health status. The questionnaire on WFH allows comparisons between participants WFH and those who did not. This dataset will contribute to further research into events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and their impact.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-025-07329-6COVID-19Corona pandemicSaxon Longitudinal Studysleep disturbances, and heart probleMental well-beingPsychological strainPhysical health
spellingShingle Franziska Emmerich
Julia Junghans
Markus Zenger
Elmar Brähler
Yve Stöbel-Richter
Lisa Irmscher
Ernst Peter Richter
Hendrik Berth
A data set for mental and physical stress, loneliness, and life satisfaction before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and the role of working from home
BMC Research Notes
COVID-19
Corona pandemic
Saxon Longitudinal Studysleep disturbances, and heart proble
Mental well-being
Psychological strain
Physical health
title A data set for mental and physical stress, loneliness, and life satisfaction before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and the role of working from home
title_full A data set for mental and physical stress, loneliness, and life satisfaction before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and the role of working from home
title_fullStr A data set for mental and physical stress, loneliness, and life satisfaction before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and the role of working from home
title_full_unstemmed A data set for mental and physical stress, loneliness, and life satisfaction before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and the role of working from home
title_short A data set for mental and physical stress, loneliness, and life satisfaction before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and the role of working from home
title_sort data set for mental and physical stress loneliness and life satisfaction before and during the covid 19 pandemic and the role of working from home
topic COVID-19
Corona pandemic
Saxon Longitudinal Studysleep disturbances, and heart proble
Mental well-being
Psychological strain
Physical health
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-025-07329-6
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