Place Attachment and Suffering During a Pandemic

Highlights • Studied the role of social distancing in mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic • Stay-at-home orders associated with depression, GAD, insomnia, and acute stress • Distancing behavior associated with depression, GAD, intrusive thoughts, and stress • Depression and GAD symptoms increased between February and March 2020 • Symptom increases were associated with individuals’ social distancing behavior

Abstract Objectives With the spread of COVID-19, the Netherlands implemented a policy to keep citizens physically distanced. We hypothesize that consequent reduction in the frequency of social contacts, personal losses and the experience of general threats in society reduced well-being. Methods Data were collected from 1,679 Dutch community-dwelling participants aged 65 to 102 years old comprising a longitudinal online panel. Social and emotional loneliness and mental health were measured in May 2020, i.e., two months after the implementation of the measures, and earlier in October and November 2019. Results In this pandemic, not only loneliness of older people increased, but mental health remained roughly stable. The policy measures for physical distancing did not cause much social isolation but personal losses, worries about the pandemic, and a decline in trust in societal institutions were associated with increased mental health problems and especially emotional loneliness. Discussion The consequences of long-term social isolation and well-being must be closely monitored.