Abstract
Melbourne had the longest COVID-19 lockdown in the world, from March 2020 and lasting until October 2021, creating a sense of fear and anxiety across Victoria, Australia. The outbreak caused significant disruptions to people’s lives, with some encountering positive outcomes while others faced negative impacts during the lockdown. This led to short-term and long-term psychosocial and mental health effects among Melbourne residents. The researcher faced the clear necessity for evidence-based research to gain a deeper understanding of immigrants’ experiences and identify the gap in prioritising their mental health. The purpose of this research was to understand immigrants’ lived experiences of the COVID-19 lockdown on their mental health in Melbourne, Australia, and to develop specific recommendations to promote immigrants’ mental health. This study explores immigrants' lived experiences of the COVID-19 lockdown in Melbourne, Australia, focusing on its psychological, social, and emotional impact. Guided by the Theory of Human Phenomenology (THPN), this research assumes that individuals construct meaning through lived experiences, and their realities are shaped by subjective interpretations of their environment.
This study used a qualitative, exploratory, descriptive, and contextual research design, whereby life experiences were described subjectively. A descriptive phenomenological approach was employed to understand immigrants’ lived experiences of the COVID-19 lockdown on their mental health in Melbourne, Australia. Individual, in-depth, phenomenological interviews, field notes, and observations were used to collect data, focusing on the central question, “How was it for you as an immigrant living in Melbourne during the COVID-19 lockdown?” A non-probability, purposive sampling method was used in this study. Eleven immigrants from Melbourne, Australia, were interviewed, and Tesch’s thematic data analysis approach was employed. Various measures were taken to ensure trustworthiness and uphold ethical principles throughout the research process.
Observations complemented verbal accounts, providing in-depth understanding into the emotions, behaviours, and social cues that have not been expressed by participants. In assessing non-verbal cues, emotional expressions, speech patterns,
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behaviours and interaction styles, the researcher was able to capture not only what the participants said but also how they said and reacted to it. Use of observation in conjunction with the verbal interviews was able to properly depict the depth of the immigrants’ experiences. Non-verbal cues like facial expressions, body language and gestures helped the researcher understand the emotional state and the comfort level of the participants. Emotional expressions like tears, pauses, hesitations, nervous chuckle, and laughter, highlighted the intensity of the experience. Trembling voices, rapid speech, and lowered voices were used at emotional strain or discomfort points. Furthermore, behavioural responses such as deep sighs, clenched fists, and avoiding eye to eye contact showed the emotions which were not always verbalized by the participants.
The study highlighted the impact of COVID-19’s prolonged lockdown on immigrants’ mental health. Five themes were identified. Theme 1 identified that the participants experienced emotional and psychological challenges during the COVID-19 lockdown. Theme 2 revealed that the participants experienced isolation and interpersonal disconnect during the COVID-19 lockdown. Theme 3 highlighted that the participants experienced immigrant-specific challenges during the lockdown, which exacerbated their difficulties. In addition, Theme 4 highlighted the coping mechanisms and lessons learnt during the COVID-19 lockdown. Lastly, Theme 5 explored immigrants’ support needs during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Specific recommendations were developed based on the identified themes to support the mental health of immigrants affected by the COVID-19 lockdown in Melbourne, Australia. General recommendations were also formulated for psychiatric nursing practice, future research, and psychiatric nursing education.
The interviews took place between 2 February 2024 and 18 July 2024, approximately 2 years and 4 months after the end of Melbourne’s lockdown in October 2021. Despite this significant time gap, interviewing participants remains relevant because the psychological distress and social consequences of lockdown persist well beyond the immediate crisis, resulting in long-term mental health impact for immigrants. This time gap enabled participants to give not only their experiences of the lockdown, but also reflected on their coping mechanisms, recovery processes, and whether they received
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adequate support. This time gap determined how immigrants were impacted over time by post-lockdown policies and support measures and identifying gaps in long-term support. This time gap further allowed participants to reflect and provide a more detailed picture of how the lockdown impacted their mental health in comparison to their current circumstances, highlighting areas of resilience or ongoing struggles.
As the time gap was quite large, the researcher had to use some strategies to reduce recall bias and ensure that the results are still accurate and meaningful despite the significant time gap. To improve memory recall, the researcher employed specific techniques, for example, asking participants about memorable events such as the first day of lockdown. Participants were asked to describe their emotions and thoughts during key moments since emotions are linked with memory. The interviews had timeline guides to help the participants think chronological. The researcher asked participants if they have kept social media posts, messages or diaries from the lockdown period that might help them to remember certain events. The researcher also compared the results obtained from different participants to identify common consistent themes or discrepancies. The study was based on the analysis of significant and long-term effects, such as changes in mental health and the causes of these changes. The researcher also posed questions that were designed to reveal the perceived changes across time.