The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychosocial well-being of people with disabilities

Abstract

Background Before the COVID-19 pandemic, people with mobility, vision, hearing, and cognitive disabilities were at a higher risk of lower psychosocial well-being than people without disabilities. It is, therefore, of great importance to investigate whether the pandemic has exacerbated this difference. Objective This study examines whether people with disabilities (categorized as mobility, vision, hearing, cognitive, and any disabilities) report more COVID-19-related negative effects on psychosocial well-being (loneliness, decreased social contact, decreased hope for the future, concerns about being infected) than people without disabilities. Methods We analyzed population-based data from the Finnish Health, Welfare, and Services (FinSote) survey carried out in 2020–2021 (N = 22 165, age 20+). Logistic regression models were applied, controlling for the effects of age, sex, partnership, living alone, and education. Results All disability groups, except those with vision disabilities, reported significantly more often that the pandemic increased loneliness than people without disabilities. There were no significant differences between the disability groups and people without disabilities in decreased social contacts. People with only mobility and cognitive disabilities reported significantly more often that the pandemic decreased their hope for the future than those without disabilities. All disability groups were more often concerned about being infected than people without disabilities, but this effect was not significant among people 75 or older. Conclusion The psychosocial well-being of people with specific types of disabilities should receive special attention during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 Related Shifts in Social Interaction, Connection, and Cohesion Impact Psychosocial Health: Longitudinal Qualitative Findings from COVID-19 Treatment Trial Engaged Participants

“…The pandemic’s burden on mental health is associated with multiple intersecting factors, including economic decline resulting in increased job insecurity [ 3 , 4 ]; housing precarity [ 5 , 6 ]; childcare disruptions and school closures [ 7 , 8 , 9 ]; increased risk of interpersonal violence [ 10 , 11 ]; and general disruption to daily routines [ 12 ]. Furthermore, the burden of COVID-19 disease, and its psychosocial sequelae, has disproportionately impacted certain populations, such as children and youth [ 12 , 13 ], cisgender women [ 14 , 15 , 16 ], minoritized communities [ 17 , 18 ], people who use drugs [ 19 ], older adults [ 20 , 21 ], people with disabilities [ 22 , 23 ], and LGBTQIA+ individuals [ 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ].…”

Differences in Unfavorable Lifestyle Changes during the COVID-19 Pandemic between People with and without Disabilities in Finland: Psychological Distress as a Mediator

“…To curb the spread of the virus, various containment measures, such as social distancing, working remotely, closure of leisure facilities, and restrictions on gatherings, have been instituted [ 1 , 2 ]. People with disabilities have been particularly vulnerable to many of the negative consequences of these measures [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ].…”

“…People with disabilities are a heterogenous group of individuals with varying levels of needs and abilities. Several subgroups can be identified, such as mobility, vision, hearing, and cognitive disabilities, and various disabilities can manifest together [ 7 , 13 , 27 ]. Disability severity can vary from mild to very severe, inducing different consequences for those with disabilities [ 28 ].…”

“…The distress can originate from various adverse and stressful circumstances that are more prevalent among people with disabilities even before the pandemic, e.g., poor health and activity limitations, loneliness, unemployment, financial insecurity, social exclusion and discrimination, and inadequate health and social services [ 34 , 35 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 ]. Many of these issues have further deteriorated during the pandemic, and people, particularly those with disabilities, have reported considerable concern about COVID-19 [ 3 , 5 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 13 ]. People with disabilities may also respond more strongly to the stress of the pandemic than those without disabilities because they may have underlying health conditions that heighten their risk of consequences [ 27 ], such as serious illness from COVID-19 and being hospitalized if symptomatic [ 41 ].…”

Towards an Inclusive Society: Review of Google Trends Data of User Interest in the Deaf Comparing to the Blind and the Disabled

“…Although there is still the lack in knowledge on pandemic consequences to particular communities, it is already evidenced that it is a big mistake to treat all people with disabilities as a general group. The changes in living conditions because pandemic restrictions affected people with disabilities differently (Holm et al, 2022). Some of the disabled had not sufficient access to full and timely information while being at home as they were unable to retrieve it due to their hearing or visual impairment and the technical inadequacy of the public information sources (Goggin and Ellis, 2020; Sabatello et al, 2020).…”