Researchers find a correlation between uniform use of masks and improved well-being

Since the onset of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), universal masking has been implemented in many countries.

Wearing masks or facial coatings can help reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, as they prevent the entry of infectious respiratory drops. At the same time, it prevents drops from reaching people when the infected sneeze, cough, talk or breathe.

A team of researchers from the University of Edinburgh, UK, found that covering the face promotes mental health. Those who wore face covers or masks most of the time had better mental health and well-being than those who did not.

The study, published in prepress medRxiv * server, surveyed more than 11,000 participants across the UK.

Facial coverage

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends wearing a face mask as part of a comprehensive SARS-CoV-2 transmission mitigation strategy. Wearing a mask alone is not enough to provide adequate protection, but it is effective along with other infection control measures.

The health agency also recommends that people wear a mask if they are around other people. When you wear the mask properly, your nose, mouth and chin should be covered.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is urging the public to wear fabric-covered facials. Surgical and medical masks are intended for healthcare workers. To prevent depletion of the supply of this medical equipment, it is crucial to protect frontline workers.

The study

The team performed longitudinal analyzes in the UK. To reach the study’s findings, they recruited participants who completed the CovidLife surveys. Data were collected through the Qualtrics platform between April and June 2020. Participants ’mental health outcomes were assessed.

The researchers revealed that adherence to facial coverage guidelines had no association with poorer mental health. The team found that people who always wore the mask had better mental health than those who did not.

Therefore, the study shows that wearing coatings or masks more often will not negatively affect mental health.

The results of the study revealed that the chances of feeling anxious were 58% lower among those who always wore the mask. The likelihood of having depressive symptoms was 25% lower among people who wore the mask most of the time. Finally, the odds of feeling alone were 67% lower among those who always wore the mask.

“In fact, it seems to be the opposite: greater adherence to guidelines is associated with less anxiety and loneliness, and greater satisfaction with life and well-being,” the researchers wrote in the paper.

The results of the study have been agreed with past studies that have shown that other people cannot negatively adhere to the rule of wearing facial masks. It reveals the other side of adherence behavior, even if stigmatization or the discomfort of wearing masks hurts or does not harm mental health and well-being.

However, the team stressed that the use of face masks alone is insufficient to prevent SARS-Cov-2 infection. Adherence to infection control measures, such as washing hands regularly, maintaining social distance, and avoiding crowded places, are crucial factors that must be applied alongside face covers.

“Our data provide solid evidence that following government guidelines on facial coverage is associated with better mental health and well-being rather than poor,” the team concluded.

“This evidence could be an important motivator for the continued advocacy of policy makers and citizen support,” they added.

* Important news

medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and therefore should not be considered conclusive, guide clinical practice / health-related behavior, or treated as established information.