Depression and loneliness during April 2020 COVID-19 restrictions in the United States, and their associations with frequency of social and sexual connections

Rosenberg, Molly; Luetke, Maya; Hensel, Devon J.; Kianersi, Sina; Fu, Tsu‐Tan; Herbenick, Debby

doi:10.1007/s00127-020-02002-8

Cited by 100 publications

(102 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…It was also associated with financial concerns and worries about the impact of prolonged quarantine as well as feelings of fear and uncertainty, increased depression, anxiety, stress, and an increased affective response to different aspect of the pandemic in Poland, the United Kingdom, and the United States (Brooks et al, 2020;Holmes et al, 2020;Jia et al, 2020;Kantor and Kantor, 2020;Killgore et al, 2020;Okruszek et al, 2020;Smith and Lim, 2020;Son et al, 2020;Cacioppo et al, 2021). Studies indicate that more frequent faceto-face contacts (unlike remote or virtual interactions), as well as closeness and quality of relationships moderate the negative loneliness-inducing influence of the COVID-19 pandemic and function as protective factors (Bu et al, 2020a,b;Groarke et al, 2020;Li and Wang, 2020;Tull et al, 2020;Rosenberg et al, 2021). Close, frequent and satisfying relationships constitute a basic human need and are core indicators of the social aspect of wellbeing (Baumeister and Leary, 1995;Ryan and Deci, 2000;Seligman, 2011).…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Impact of Demographics, Life and Work Circumstances on College and University Instructors’ Well-Being During Quaranteaching

Jelińska

Paradowski

2021

Front. Psychol.

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In response to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, educational institutions around the world were forced into lockdown in order to contain the spread of the virus. To ensure continuous provision of education, most transitioned to emergency remote instruction. This has been particularly the case in higher education (HE) institutions. The circumstances of the pandemic have brought unprecedented psychological pressure on the population, in the case of educators and students exacerbated by the transition to a mode of instruction that was completely novel to the majority. The present study examines how college and university instructors dealt with teaching online in these unparalleled circumstances, with a focus on how factors connected with their daily lives and livelihoods influenced their well-being. Between April and September 2020, a comprehensive online survey was filled out by 804 HE instructors from 92 countries. We explore how sociodemographic variables such as gender, age, relationship status, living conditions, and length of professional experience non-trivially affect situational anxiety, work-life synergy, coping, and productivity. The results contribute to a better understanding of the impact of the pandemic and emergency remote instruction on college and university instructors’ well-being by explaining the mechanisms mediating the relationship between individual, contextual, and affective variables. It may provide helpful guidelines for college and university administrators as well as teachers themselves as to how help alleviate the adverse effects of the continuing pandemic and possible similar disruptions leading to school closures on coping and well-being.

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Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Impact of Demographics, Life and Work Circumstances on College and University Instructors’ Well-Being During Quaranteaching

Jelińska

Paradowski

2021

Front. Psychol.

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“… 17 Estimates within the general (US) population during the COVID-19 pandemic have suggested that up to a third of people may be experiencing substantial depressive symptomology (using the CES-D-10 scale). 18 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Discrimination as a predictor of poor mental health among LGBTQ+ people during the COVID-19 pandemic: cross-sectional analysis of the online Queerantine study

Kneale

Bécares

2021

BMJ Open

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ObjectivesTo assess the mental health and experiences of discrimination among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) people at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.DesignData come from a cross-sectional online survey targeted at LGBTQ+ people, which collected data on mental health, experiences of discrimination and a number of other pandemic-related experiences. To examine the association between sexual orientation and gender and mental health and experiences of discrimination, we conducted regression analyses that adjusted for a range of sociodemographic variables.SettingA web-based survey was used to collect data between the end of April and mid July 2020.ParticipantsAn analytical sample of 310 LGBTQ+ respondents aged 18 and above.Main outcome measuresWe assessed mental health with the 4-item Perceived Stress Scale and with the 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale (CES-D-10). We asked respondents about discriminatory experiences because of their LGBTQ+ identity during the coronavirus pandemic.ResultsPerceived stress scores among our LGBTQ+ sample were high (mean: 7.67; SD: 3.22). Based on a score of 10 or more on the CES-D-10, the majority of participants had high levels of depressive symptoms (72%). Around one-in-six respondents reported some form of discrimination since the start of the pandemic because they were LGBTQ+ (16.7%). The average score for perceived stress increased by 1.44 points (95% CI 0.517 to 2.354) for respondents who had experienced discrimination versus those who had not. Similarly, the odds of exhibiting significant depressive symptomology increased threefold among those who had experienced discrimination compared with those who had not (OR: 3.251; 95% CI 1.168 to 9.052).ConclusionsThe LGBTQ+ community exhibited high levels of depression, stress and experienced discrimination during the coronavirus pandemic. High levels of poor mental health were partially explained by experiences of discrimination, which had a large, consistent and pernicious impact on mental health.

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“…Loneliness has been defined as the embodiment of social isolation and can show an individual's negative feelings about the frequency and closeness of their social contacts (Steptoe et al, 2013 ). In addition, loneliness has been associated with increased levels of depressive symptoms (Cacioppo et al, 2006 ; Matthews et al, 2016 ; Palgi et al, 2020 ; Rosenberg et al, 2020 ), increased symptoms of anxiety (Ernst and Cacioppo, 1999 ; Cacioppo et al, 2006 ; Okruszek et al, 2020 ; Palgi et al, 2020 ), and an altered mood state (Loucks, 1980 ; Besser et al, 2020 ). Prolonged time at home, loneliness (Page and Hammermeister, 1995 ; Hawkley et al, 2009 ; Richard et al, 2017 ; Schrempft et al, 2019 ; Creese et al, 2020 ), and mental health disturbances (Mayou et al, 2000 ; Brummett et al, 2003 ; Stewart et al, 2003 ; Van Gool et al, 2003 ; Allan et al, 2007 ; Da Silva et al, 2012 ; Legey et al, 2017 ; Stubbs et al, 2017 ; Creese et al, 2020 ; López-Bueno et al, 2020 ; Stanton et al, 2020 ) can increase behaviors that promote sedentary behavior and decrease overall physical activity (Biddle, 2016 ; Creese et al, 2020 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Short-Term Analysis (8 Weeks) of Social Distancing and Isolation on Mental Health and Physical Activity Behavior During COVID-19

et al. 2021

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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, cities and states adopted social distancing, social isolation, or quarantine measurements to slow the transmission of the disease. Negative mental health outcomes including depression and anxiety have been associated with social distancing or social isolation. The purpose of the present study was to examine changes in psychological health and physical activity over an 8 week period under social distancing policies during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: Ninety (73.3% female; age 32.04 ± 11.33) individuals participated in this study. Qualifying participants answered questions using an online survey regarding their loneliness, depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, mood state, and physical activity over four time points each lasting two weeks.Results: Symptoms of depression and state anxiety were increased in the population when compared to nationwide statistics from before the COVID-19 pandemic. Time point 2, ~1 month into social isolation, showed the most significant effects on mental health. During this time point, 100% of the participants showed symptoms of depression. There were no significant changes in physical activity over the 8 weeks. Loneliness, depressive symptoms, fatigue, and mood state were negatively associated with participation in physical activity. Vigor and state anxiety were associated with participation in physical activity.Conclusion: Social isolation and social distancing practices have had a negative effect on depression, anxiety, and mood over time. It appeared that depressive symptoms and total mood disturbance was elevated during time point two. Depressive symptoms were much higher than average compared to previous epidemiological data. Physical activity amount did not change over time but was associated with poor mental health.

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Depression and loneliness during April 2020 COVID-19 restrictions in the United States, and their associations with frequency of social and sexual connections

Cited by 100 publications

References 31 publications

The Impact of Demographics, Life and Work Circumstances on College and University Instructors’ Well-Being During Quaranteaching

The Impact of Demographics, Life and Work Circumstances on College and University Instructors’ Well-Being During Quaranteaching

Discrimination as a predictor of poor mental health among LGBTQ+ people during the COVID-19 pandemic: cross-sectional analysis of the online Queerantine study

Short-Term Analysis (8 Weeks) of Social Distancing and Isolation on Mental Health and Physical Activity Behavior During COVID-19

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