Loneliness and depressive symptoms differ by sexual orientation and gender identity during physical distancing measures in response to COVID‐19 pandemic in Germany

Abstract

During the COVID‐19 pandemic, physical distancing measures to prevent transmission of the virus have been implemented. The effect of physical distancing measures on loneliness especially for vulnerable groups remained unclear. Thus, we aimed to investigate loneliness in relation with depressive symptoms among lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, inter, asexual, and queer (LGBT) persons compared with cis‐heterosexual persons during the pandemic. We conducted an online survey during the first two waves of the COVID‐19 pandemic in Germany. The survey contained self‐categorizations regarding sexual orientation and gender identity, questions on loneliness, social contacts, depressive symptoms, and healthcare. Descriptive and regression analysis and propensity score matching across cohorts was conducted using R; 2641 participants took part in first wave of the survey and 4143 participants in the second wave. The proportion of lonely people was higher in the second wave compared with the first wave. LGBT persons were more lonely than cis‐heterosexual persons. In both waves, being LGBT was associated with depressive symptoms, but loneliness mediated the effect, even when adjusting for social contacts. Psychologists and other practitioners should be aware that LGBT clients might have an increased risk for loneliness and depressive symptoms and of the potential burden of the pandemic measures.

On the relevance of considering temporal dynamics in loneliness research

“…Accumulating evidence of the negative effects of loneliness on a broad range of health outcomes (Cacioppo & Cacioppo, 2018a; Holt‐Lunstad et al, 2015) calls for special attention to this phenomenon, in particular in challenging times like the current Covid‐19 pandemic. This is exactly what the special issue on “Loneliness and Health: Understanding and overcoming challenges in times of crisis and beyond” edited by Lippke and Warner (2023) does in form of a collection of high‐quality empirical papers drawing on different theories (e.g., entity theory of emotion, Jiang & Lee, 2023; the evolutionary theory of loneliness, Keller et al, 2023; or the theory‐based moderating function of positive affect, Beller, 2023), focusing on different populations (e.g., LGBT persons, Herrmann et al, 2023; cardiac patients, Fan et al, 2023; stroke patients, Lamont et al, 2023; rehabilitation patients, Keller et al, 2023; adolescents, Iyer et al, 2023; older adults, Li et al, 2023), and applying a variety of methods (e.g., longitudinal studies, Beller, 2023; Cohen et al, 2023; Takiguchi et al, 2023; intensive‐longitudinal diary studies, Jiang & Lee, 2023; a meta‐analysis, Li et al, 2023; and experimental, Sun et al, 2023; or intervention studies, Iyer et al, 2023).…”

Understanding and overcoming challenges in times of personal or global crisis—Editorial on the Special Issue on Loneliness and Health

“…The studies included in this special issue employed the following methodological designs: Cohort studies with different measurement points were used by Beller (2023) and Herrmann et al (2023). An example of a questionnaire-based, repeated-measures design is presented in Cohen et al (2023).…”

“…Many of the articles included in this special issue focused on the interrelations of a crisis , that is, the Covid‐19 pandemic (as a global crisis), with social isolation and loneliness. For instance, in an online survey during the first two waves of the Covid‐19 pandemic in Germany, the differences between lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex, asexual, and queer (LGBT) persons were compared with cis‐heterosexual persons (Herrmann et al, 2023). The findings, coupled with other characteristics, disadvantages, and inequalities, call for more attention to these minority groups.…”

“…Stress can explain the function of loneliness. Accordingly, the minority stress model (Meyer, 2003) was applied by Herrmann et al (2023). Also, social cognition theories were used to understand and investigate loneliness, for instance, the implicit theory of emotion/entity theory of emotion in Jiang and Lee (2023).…”

Desire and motivation for parenthood during the COVID-19 pandemic: A comparison of cis-gender minoritized sexual identities with cis-heterosexual individuals living in Germany

“…As a humanitarian crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated social isolation measures (including at-home con nement) have been shown to further negatively impact mental health and lead to impairments in quality of life, with fears and insecurities related to both the present and the future leading to a rise in emotional disorders (7,8). In this context, individuals with minoritized sexual identities are reported to show signi cantly lower well-being and signi cantly higher rates of depressive symptoms in comparison to heterosexual individuals since the COVID-19 pandemic (9,10). While stable and supportive relationships (e.g., family or partners) have been highlighted as protective against psychological di culties (11,12), access to one's social supports and relationships have often been curtailed by con nement measures set out by legislation.…”