The Psychological Impact of Mask Wearing

 by Mia Parry

As schools and workplaces begin to reopen after lockdown, masks are once again mandatory (except those exempted) in indoor spaces or places where social distancing is not achievable. We seem to only consider the biohazardous benefits of face coverings rather than the psychological implications on a personal and social level.

Firstly, dizziness, headaches, nausea and skewed depth perception are commonly experienced, yet this is considered just a small sacrifice considering that the standard mask for use in health care settings filters out 95% of airborne particles, playing a vital role in COVID-19 case reduction. Alongside this, face cover wearing can provoke increased stress hormone production, having a deeper impression on mental development and resilience especially in younger children who spend large amounts of time interacting with masked individuals.

During childhood, the brain undergoes maturation, with facial expression and interaction being vital to this hormonal epigenetic reprogramming. Face masks, however, prevent the conveying of emotion, an element of a teacher/student relationship for example that facilitates empathic connections and trust which is forecasted to increase socio-psychological stress, studies of which have shown that long term exposure leaves neuro-epigenetic scars which may develop into mental behavioural problems and contribute to a weakened immune system.

Alongside the severe psychological repercussions of lockdown, mask-wearing will only add to the mental downfall of a socially deprived population as recent research suggests a 63% increase in anxiety and depression in young adults aged 18-24, triggering a 25% increase in the use of antidepressants, which can have their own complex consequences on brain and societal development, all potential consequences of face coverings we have yet to consider. 

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