Forced social isolation and mental health: A study on 1006 Italians under COVID-19 lockdown

Abstract

Countries are tackling the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic imposing people to social isolate. However, this measure carries risks for people’s mental health. This study evaluated the psychological repercussions of objective isolation in 1006 Italians locked down. Although varying for the regional spread-rate of the contagion, results showed that the longer the isolation and the less adequate the physical space where people were isolated, the worse the mental health (e.g., depression). Offline and online social contacts could buffer the adverse effects of social restrictions. However, when offline contacts are limited, online contacts can protect mental health from isolation. The findings could speak about the possible temporal evolution by which the length of isolation is associated with worse mental health. Moreover, the results outlined the downsides of the massive social isolation imposed by COVID-19 spread, highlighting risk factors and resources to account for in the implementation of such isolation measures.

Social participation and life satisfaction of peoples during the COVID-19 home confinement: the ECLB-COVID19 multicenter study

“…This could be explained by social restrictions and reduced mobility imposed by governmental entities to contain the spread of the virus. 29 Present findings indicate the 71.15% reduction in total social participation score was largely due to the decrease in social participation through family-visit activity (58%), with less individuals reporting regular (often/all times) visits to their family during compared to before the confinement period (7.2% vs. 65.2%). Social participation through entertainment activities or neighbors/friend visits recorded the second large decrease (44.9% to 46.7%), with the proportion of people declaring to regularly visit their neighbors/friends or regularly go to coffee shops/restaurants/parties decreased from more than 47% at before confinement to between 1% and 3% during confinement period.…”

“…Indeed, according to one study evaluating 1006 Italians under COVID-19 quarantine, longitudinal forced isolation increased depression, unworthiness, alienation, and helplessness. 29 In addition, worse health conditions, as well as distress, were reported by adults who were not working in China. 28 The present findings confirm the causal relationship between social participation and psychological health, showing a significant positive correlation between the total score recorded for social participation and life satisfaction (p<0.001 and r=0.23).…”

Prevalence of maternal antenatal anxiety and its association with demographic and socioeconomic factors: A multicentre study in Italy

“…Indeed, the COVID-19 outbreak has significantly impacted European and global economies both in the short term and in the coming years [58,59]. Furthermore, as shown by general population surveys, social isolation related to the COVID-19 pandemic is associated with a wide range of adverse psychological effects, including clinical anxiety and depression and concern about financial difficulties [60,61], which can persist for months or years afterward, as indicated by the literature on quarantine [62]. A vulnerable population, such as women in the perinatal period, may be among the individuals who are most affected.…”

Teilhabemöglichkeit, Partizipation, Inklusion und psychisches Befinden im Zusammenhang mit Ausgangsbeschränkungen aufgrund SARS-CoV-2

“…Angesichts der globalen Bedrohung durch SARS-CoV-2 sowie der potenziell negativen psychischen Folgen der infektionspräventiven Maßnahmen werden immer mehr Studien zur Untersuchung der psychischen Folgen vorgelegt. In einer in Italien in den ersten 3 Wochen nach Beginn der Ausgangsbeschränkungen durchgeführten Querschnittuntersuchung fand sich, dass die Dauer der erlebten Ausgangsbeschränkungen und die Qualität der häuslichen Wohnsituation das Befinden negativ beeinflussten, wobei sowohl die Anzahl von Onlinekontakten als auch die Anzahl von Offlinekontakten diesen Effekt milderten [7]. Zhang et al [8] fanden in einer kürzlich in China durchgeführten Querschnitterhebung, dass diejenigen, die im Ergebnis einer Ausgangsbeschränkung keinerlei beruflicher Tätigkeit mehr nachgehen konnten, 4 Wochen nach Beginn der Ausgangsbeschränkung eher psychisch belastet waren.…”