Abstract
In the current global pandemic of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), there is an increasing amount of research on the effects of the pandemic. However, few studies have explored the impact of COVID-19 in Aotearoa New Zealand. We conducted two studies. The aim of our first study was to investigate the impacts of the COVID-19 Lockdown in Aotearoa New Zealand. We used data from a separate and already existing student alcohol study to provide longitudinal data and we also collected data from this sample during the COVID-19 pandemic. Three hundred and fifteen University students participated in Study 1. We measured mental health, loneliness, fear of COVID-19, and alcohol consumption at 4 timepoints (baseline, during Lockdown Level 4, during Lockdown Level 3, and Lockdown Level 1). Supporting the first hypothesis, mental health declined during Lockdown Level 4 and Lockdown Level 3 when compared to baseline. Further supporting our second hypothesis, loneliness, and fear of COVID-19 independently predicted a decrease in mental health during Lockdown Level 4 and Lockdown Level 3. Consistent with the third hypothesis, alcohol consumption decreased during Lockdown Level 3 and Lockdown Level 4. The aim of our second study was to explore fear of COVID-19 and changes in behaviour. Three thousand five hundred and thirty-two people participated in this study and were recruited through multiple news platforms discussing the impact of lockdown. We measured fear of COVID-19, lockdown rule adherence, and behaviour change. Consistent with the fourth and final hypothesis, fear of COVID-19 was found to be positively correlated with adherence to lockdown rules and personal hygiene behaviour changes. We discuss the current findings in relation to the literature across the world and here in Aotearoa New Zealand.