Loneliness, mental health and COVID-19 in the Spanish population <span class="so-article-trans-title" dir="auto"> Translated title: Soledad, salud mental y COVID-19 en la población española </span>

There is no author summary for this article yet. Authors can add summaries to their articles on ScienceOpen to make them more accessible to a non-specialist audience.

Abstract

Abstract The study aim was to assess the effects of the health emergency and the stay-at-home restrictions on loneliness variables in the Spanish population during the initial stage of COVID-19. A cross-sectional study was conducted through an online survey of 3480 people. From March 14, 2020, screening tests were used to evaluate sociodemographic and COVID-19-related data on loneliness, social support, the presence of mental health symptoms, discrimination, and spiritual well-being. Descriptive analyses were conducted and linear regression models were constructed. A negative association was found between loneliness and being older, being partnered, having children, being a university graduate, being retired or still working, having stronger religious beliefs, believing that information provided about the pandemic was adequate, having social support, and having self-compassion. Actions that promote social support and further studies on loneliness in groups of older people are needed to prevent the pandemic having a stronger impact on mental health and well-being.

Translated abstract

Resumen El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar los efectos de la emergencia sanitaria y el confinamiento de la primera oleada de COVID-19 sobre las variables de soledad en la población española. Se realizó un estudio transversal mediante una encuesta online a 3480 personas. Se evaluaron datos sociodemográficos y relacionados con la COVID-19 sobre la soledad, el apoyo social, la presencia de síntomas de salud mental, la discriminación y el bienestar espiritual mediante pruebas de detección a partir del 14 de marzo. Se realizaron análisis descriptivos y se elaboraron modelos de regresión lineal. Pertenecer al grupo de mayor edad, vivir en pareja, tener hijos y estudios universitarios, estar jubilado o seguir trabajando, valorar bastante la religión, creer que se había proporcionado información adecuada sobre la pandemia, tener apoyo social y la autocompasión se relacionaron negativamente con la soledad. Son necesarias acciones que promuevan el apoyo social, así como un mayor estudio de la soledad en grupos de personas mayores, para evitar un mayor impacto de la pandemia en nuestra salud mental y bienestar.

Related collections

Most cited references 48

Record: found
Abstract: found
Article: found

Is Open Access

Immediate Psychological Responses and Associated Factors during the Initial Stage of the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Epidemic among the General Population in China

Cuiyan Wang, Riyu Pan, Xiaoyang Wan … (2020)

Background: The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic is a public health emergency of international concern and poses a challenge to psychological resilience. Research data are needed to develop evidence-driven strategies to reduce adverse psychological impacts and psychiatric symptoms during the epidemic. The aim of this study was to survey the general public in China to better understand their levels of psychological impact, anxiety, depression, and stress during the initial stage of the COVID-19 outbreak. The data will be used for future reference. Methods: From 31 January to 2 February 2020, we conducted an online survey using snowball sampling techniques. The online survey collected information on demographic data, physical symptoms in the past 14 days, contact history with COVID-19, knowledge and concerns about COVID-19, precautionary measures against COVID-19, and additional information required with respect to COVID-19. Psychological impact was assessed by the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), and mental health status was assessed by the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Results: This study included 1210 respondents from 194 cities in China. In total, 53.8% of respondents rated the psychological impact of the outbreak as moderate or severe; 16.5% reported moderate to severe depressive symptoms; 28.8% reported moderate to severe anxiety symptoms; and 8.1% reported moderate to severe stress levels. Most respondents spent 20–24 h per day at home (84.7%); were worried about their family members contracting COVID-19 (75.2%); and were satisfied with the amount of health information available (75.1%). Female gender, student status, specific physical symptoms (e.g., myalgia, dizziness, coryza), and poor self-rated health status were significantly associated with a greater psychological impact of the outbreak and higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression (p < 0.05). Specific up-to-date and accurate health information (e.g., treatment, local outbreak situation) and particular precautionary measures (e.g., hand hygiene, wearing a mask) were associated with a lower psychological impact of the outbreak and lower levels of stress, anxiety, and depression (p < 0.05). Conclusions: During the initial phase of the COVID-19 outbreak in China, more than half of the respondents rated the psychological impact as moderate-to-severe, and about one-third reported moderate-to-severe anxiety. Our findings identify factors associated with a lower level of psychological impact and better mental health status that can be used to formulate psychological interventions to improve the mental health of vulnerable groups during the COVID-19 epidemic.

0 comments Cited 4196 times – based on 0 reviews      Review now

Bookmark

Record: found
Abstract: found
Article: not found

COVID-19 and the consequences of isolating the elderly

Richard A. Armitage, Laura Nellums (2020)

As countries are affected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the elderly population will soon be told to self-isolate for “a very long time” in the UK, and elsewhere. 1 This attempt to shield the over-70s, and thereby protect over-burdened health systems, comes as worldwide countries enforce lockdowns, curfews, and social isolation to mitigate the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, it is well known that social isolation among older adults is a “serious public health concern” because of their heightened risk of cardiovascular, autoimmune, neurocognitive, and mental health problems. 2 Santini and colleagues 3 recently demonstrated that social disconnection puts older adults at greater risk of depression and anxiety. If health ministers instruct elderly people to remain home, have groceries and vital medications delivered, and avoid social contact with family and friends, urgent action is needed to mitigate the mental and physical health consequences. Self-isolation will disproportionately affect elderly individuals whose only social contact is out of the home, such as at daycare venues, community centres, and places of worship. Those who do not have close family or friends, and rely on the support of voluntary services or social care, could be placed at additional risk, along with those who are already lonely, isolated, or secluded. Online technologies could be harnessed to provide social support networks and a sense of belonging, 4 although there might be disparities in access to or literacy in digital resources. Interventions could simply involve more frequent telephone contact with significant others, close family and friends, voluntary organisations, or health-care professionals, or community outreach projects providing peer support throughout the enforced isolation. Beyond this, cognitive behavioural therapies could be delivered online to decrease loneliness and improve mental wellbeing. 5 Isolating the elderly might reduce transmission, which is most important to delay the peak in cases, and minimise the spread to high-risk groups. However, adherence to isolation strategies is likely to decrease over time. Such mitigation measures must be effectively timed to prevent transmission, but avoid increasing the morbidity of COVID-19 associated with affective disorders. This effect will be felt greatest in more disadvantaged and marginalised populations, which should be urgently targeted for the implementation of preventive strategies.

0 comments Cited 675 times – based on 0 reviews      Review now

Bookmark

Record: found
Abstract: found
Article: not found

Mental Health Consequences during the Initial Stage of the 2020 Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19) in Spain

Clara González-Sanguino, Berta Ausín, Miguel ÁngelCastellanos … (2020)

Highlights: • The 18.7% of the sample (N=3480) revealed depressive symptomatology, the 21.6% anxiety and the 15.8% posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. • Being in the older age group, having economic stability and receiving adequate information about the pandemic were negatively related to the symptomatology. • Female gender, previous diagnoses of mental health problems or neurological disorders, having symptoms associated with the virus, or those with a close relative infected were associated with greater symptomatology. • Spiritual well-being was a common protector for all symptomatology and the loneliness a predictor.

0 comments Cited 674 times – based on 0 reviews      Review now

Bookmark

All references

Author and article information

Journal

Journal ID (publisher-id): ep

Title: Escritos de Psicología (Internet)

Abbreviated Title: Escritos de Psicología

Publisher: Facultad de Psicología. Universidad de Málaga (Málaga, Málaga, Spain )

ISSN (Print): 1138-2635

ISSN (Electronic): 1989-3809

Publication date (Print and electronic): December 2021

Volume: 14

Issue: 2

Pages: 51-62

Affiliations

[3] Madrid Madrid orgnameUniversidad Complutense de Madrid orgdiv1Department of Social, Labor and Differential Psychology orgdiv2School of Psychology Spain

[4] Madrid orgnameUniversidad Complutense de Madrid orgdiv1School of Psychology orgdiv2Chair Against Stigma Grupo 5 Spain

[2] Madrid Madrid orgnameUniversidad Complutense de Madrid orgdiv1Psychobiology and Methodology in Behavioral Sciences Department orgdiv2School of Psychology Spain

[1] Madrid Madrid orgnameUniversidad Complutense de Madrid orgdiv1Personality, Evaluation and Clinical Psychology Department orgdiv2School of Psychology Spain

Article

Publisher ID: S1989-38092021000200002 Publisher ID: S1989-3809(21)01400200002

DOI: 10.24310/espsiescpsi.v14i2.12498

SO-VID: b91d2cc5-8c8d-4c1a-8cc9-6e7b34bc658e

License:

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

History

Page count

Figures: 0, Tables: 0, Equations: 0, References: 49, Pages: 12

Product

SciELO Spain

Comments

Comment on this article

scite_

Cited by 1

The Impact of the Successive Outbreaks of COVID-19, Vaccination, and Physical Activity on Mental Health in the Argentine Population: A Repeated Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Alejo Ramiro Barbuzza, Fabricio Ballarini, Celina Goyeneche …

See all cited by

Most referenced authors 1,133

See all reference authors

Loneliness, mental health and COVID-19 in the Spanish population Translated title: Soledad, salud mental y COVID-19 en la población española

Read this article at

Abstract

Translated abstract

Related collections

Novel Coronavirus Disease COVID-19

Most cited references 48

Immediate Psychological Responses and Associated Factors during the Initial Stage of the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Epidemic among the General Population in China

COVID-19 and the consequences of isolating the elderly

Mental Health Consequences during the Initial Stage of the 2020 Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19) in Spain

Author and article information

Journal

Affiliations

Article

History

Page count

Product

Categories

Comments

Comment on this article

Similar content 928

Cited by 1

Most referenced authors 1,133