Pandemic’s Lasting Impact: Mental Health Concerns Rise in Germany, Especially Among Young Adults and Women

Munich – A recent analysis of the German National Cohort (NAKO) study reveals a significant increase in depressive symptoms, anxiety, and stress levels in Germany during the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact was particularly pronounced among individuals under 40 and women, raising concerns about the long-term psychological consequences of the crisis. The study, published in the Deutsches Ärzteblatt International (2026; DOI: 10.3238/arztebl.m2025.0218), underscores the need for targeted prevention and care services.

Study Methodology and Findings

Researchers surveyed 79,239 NAKO participants at three different time points: before the pandemic (2014–2019), in the early phase of the pandemic (spring 2020), and in the later phase (autumn 2022). The survey assessed depressive symptoms, anxiety levels, stress, and self-reported health using standardized and medically established questionnaires.

The evaluation revealed a concerning trend:

• The proportion of participants experiencing depressive symptoms rose from 5.9% before the pandemic to 9.7% in autumn 2022.
• Moderate to severe anxiety symptoms increased from 3.9% to 6.2% over the same period.
• Moderate to severe stress levels more than doubled, climbing from 4.1% to 10.2%.

Simultaneously, the number of individuals reporting no symptoms decreased, while the proportion of people experiencing all three conditions – depression, anxiety, and stress – more than doubled by the late phase of the pandemic.

Disparities in Impact

“Our study shows that the pandemic has left its mark on mental health – not just in the short term, but well into the later phases of the pandemic,” stated Annette Peters, Chairwoman of NAKO and Director of the Institute for Epidemiology at Helmholtz Munich.

The analysis highlighted that younger adults under 40 and women were disproportionately affected by the psychological consequences of the pandemic. Individuals in middle and older age groups appeared to be more resilient. “The results indicate that certain population groups – especially younger people and women – were more severely affected by the psychological consequences of the pandemic,” explained Yanding Wang, lead author of the publication and doctoral student at Helmholtz Munich.

About the NAKO Study

The NAKO health study is Germany’s largest long-term population study, involving over 205,000 randomly selected citizens. Participants are continuously monitored with medical examinations and lifestyle assessments across 18 study centers. At the study’s inception in 2014, participants were between the ages of 20 and 69. The study aims to provide insights into the development of chronic diseases and the factors influencing health over the lifespan. NAKO collected comprehensive health data before and at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing for a unique comparison of mental health trends.

Implications and Future Directions

These findings emphasize the critical need for ongoing mental health support and preventative measures, particularly for vulnerable populations. Further research is needed to understand the long-term effects of the pandemic on mental well-being and to develop effective interventions to mitigate these consequences. The German National Cohort continues to provide valuable data for tracking these trends and informing public health strategies.