Could the Associations of Changes in Living Arrangement with Mental Disorders Be Moderated or Mediated During COVID-19 Pandemic?

Abstract

Purpose Changes in living arrangement was one of the most well-established risk factors for mental disorders, but little evidence came from moderating or mediating effect during COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to determine whether associations of changes in living arrangement with mental disorders could be moderated or mediated during COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Data were a cross-sectional and international population-based survey data collected as part of theCOVID-19 pandemic. Participants included nationally representative general population probability samples of adults (≥18 years) during COVID-19 pandemic (N=16,784). Main mental measures were reflected by loneliness assessed by UCLA Loneliness Scale Version 3, anxiety assessed by Generalised Anxiety Disorder 2-item, and depressed mood assessed by The Patient Health Questionnaire-2 in the survey. With control variables, all the mediation models were conducted by Stata mode. Potential influencing effects of social contact and social support as moderators were analyzed using Hayes’s PROCESS macro. Results Among the participants, prevalence of mental disorders was high. Logistic regression indicated that changes in living arrangement had significant associations with anxiety (AOR=1.127, 95% CI: 1.018–1.249) and depression (AOR =1.142, 95% CI: 1.027–1.269). Mediation models indicated that indirect, direct, and total effects of changes in living arrangement on mental disorders through COVID-symptoms; change in alcohol use; and social contact were significant. Indirect, direct, and total effects of changes in living arrangement on loneliness and depression through social support were significant. Moderation analysis indicated that moderation model 1 in AF Hayes Process procedure was accepted. Conclusion This study indicated that associations of changes in living arrangement with mental disorders could be mediated by COVID-symptoms, changes in alcohol use, social contact, and social support and moderated by social support during COVID-19 pandemic. The finding in this study might provide better understanding of the mechanisms by which social support might contribute to the resolving mental disorders.

Are healthcare workers particularly vulnerable to loneliness? The role of social relationships and mental well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…The protective value of being married or living with a partner against loneliness is well documented – both in non-pandemic times and during the pandemic ( Beutel et al, 2017 , 2021 ; Groarke et al, 2020 ; Hoffart et al, 2020 ; Li and Wang, 2020 ; McQuaid et al, 2021 ). Social contact, perceived social support, and having people you trust and feel close to, who help you feel safe, secure and happy can also protect against loneliness ( Bu et al, 2020 ; Fang et al, 2021 ; Groarke et al, 2020 ; Guan, 2021 ; Macdonald and Hülür, 2021 ). The benefits of physical contact with family and friends ( Hoffart et al, 2021 ) were diminished for our HCWs – 43% had a change in access to children and other dependents, and 29% had changed living arrangements.…”

“…Addressing loneliness is likely to be more complicated than simply increasing social connections ( Smith and Lim, 2020 ). Loneliness is not only affected by social network size ( Macdonald and Hülür, 2021 ; Rumas et al, 2021 ; Segrin and Passalacqua, 2010 ) and the frequency ( Guan, 2021 ; Macdonald and Hülür, 2021 ) and type (in-person or remote) ( Groarke et al, 2020 ; Hoffart et al, 2021 ; Rumas et al, 2021 ) of contact, but perceived closeness and quality of relationships ( Bu et al, 2020 ; Groarke et al, 2020 ) are also influential. Fulfilment of personal needs may be the critical component: satisfaction with the frequency of contact ( Macdonald and Hülür, 2021 ) and empathy focused phone calls ( Kahlon et al, 2021 ) can protect against loneliness, while greater dissatisfaction with, but not frequency of video calls, has been found to increase the odds of loneliness ( O'Sullivan et al, 2021 ).…”

Prevalence of mental health problems among children with long COVID: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Meta-analysis showed children who had previous COVID-19 infection had more than two times higher odds of having anxiety or depression, and 14% higher odds of having appetite problems, compared to children with no previous infection. The pooled prevalence of mental health problems among the population were as follows; anxiety: 9% (95% CI:1, 23), depression: 15%(95% CI:0.4, 47), concentration problems: 6%(95% CI: 3,11), sleep problems: 9%(95% CI:5, 13), mood swings: 13% (95%CI:5, 23) and appetite loss: 5%(95% CI:1, 13). However, studies were heterogenous and lack data from low-and middle-income countries.…”

“…The COVID-19 pandemic brought multiple negative impact transcending societies, socioeconomic status and health sectors. Caused by the SARS-CoV-2 initially detected among humans in December 2019 in Wuhan, China [ 3 ], the infection had a rapid spread across nations and continents, leading the World Health Organization to announce it as a pandemic in March 2020 [ 4 ]. The pandemic then occurred in waves with many deadly variants such as Delta and Omicron being subsequently detected, leading to pandemic restrictions such as school closures, mandatory quarantine and travel restrictions being imposed.…”