Latent class analysis of COVID-19 experiences, social distancing, and mental health.

Abstract

Information is needed on the relationship between coronavirus disease (COVID-19) social distancing restrictions and their relationship with mental health. In particular, there is limited investigation into how COVID-related adversities have positively mobilized individuals. We use latent class analysis (LCA) to identify subtypes of positive and negative aspects of the experience of COVID-19 social distancing and the association of these subtypes with mental health. We conduct an online survey of COVID-19 and mental health with 3,183 adults residing in Quebec, Canada, during the first wave of the epidemic. We use LCA to identify subtypes of positive and negative aspects of social distancing. We use logistic and linear regression to estimate the associations between class membership and self-reported impact of COVID-19 on mental health and scores on the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-10 (HSCL-10). We identify five classes of individuals in regards to perceived positives and negatives of social distancing related to COVID-19, named Low Impact, Freedom/Flexibility, Safety, Family/Home, and Hardships. Sociodemographic variables including age, gender, race/ethnicity, and self-reported mental health prior to COVID are associated with class assignment. Latent classes are associated with both outcomes ( p < .001). Individuals in the Hardships class have greater odds of reporting a significant impact of COVID-19 on mental health, OR = 2.09, 95% CI = [1.53, 2.86], p < .001, and have higher scores on the HSCL-10, β = .32, 95% CI = [.23, .42], p < .001, than those individuals in the Low Impact group after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics. Gender, age, and self-reported mental health prior to COVID-19 are independently associated with both outcomes ( p < .001). We discuss study implications for public health programming and interventions to promote the mental health of at-risk populations during the pandemic. Public Policy Relevance StatementTo date, there has been limited research into how coronavirus disease (COVID)-related

Mental health providers’ responses to prospective client inquiries: An investigation of response rates.

“…Despite the barriers to mental health produced by the pandemic, clients still need access to treatment. In fact, research demonstrates an increased need for mental health related interventions due to the stressors connected to the pandemic (Czeisler et al, 2020; Frounfelker et al, 2021; Runkle et al, 2021). Providers were not immune to the effects of COVID and it is possible that the LMHP population was impacted as severely, both physically and psychologically, as the general public.…”

Home quarantines and cumulative risk exposure among young children: Isolation and maladaptation.

“…Governments worldwide adopted a range of drastic social restriction measures, such as city-wide lockdowns, cancelation of mass gathering events, travel bans, and a complete shutdown of the education system, all of which were aimed to curb COVID-19 transmission (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2020). Alongside the proven effectiveness of such measures in decreasing the transmission of the virus (Ayouni et al, 2021), studies point to the negative effects and collateral damage of social restriction interventions on the general population’s mental health (see Frounfelker et al, 2022; Mahat-Shamir et al, 2023; Mahmud et al, 2022). Specifically, children and adolescents were particularly affected by the negative impacts of pandemic-related social distancing measures (Baumann, 2021; Romero et al, 2020; Sun et al, 2022).…”

Age Differences in Psychological Distress After Multiple Disaster Exposures: The Effect of Multidimensional Negative COVID-19 Impacts

“…6,20 For example, Frounfelker et al explored the typologies of positive and negative aspects of experiencing social distancing and identified 5 classes; they further reported that individuals in Hardships class were more likely to report a significant impact of COVID-19 on mental health than those in Low Impact class. 21 Likewise, Luk et al explored the multidimensional impact of COVID-related stressors and yielded 4 classes; compared to those in Minimal COVID-related Impact class, people in Serious Financial Stress class reported higher levels of perceived stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. 22 These studies suggest that individuals experiencing a more severe level of COVID-19 impacts are at higher risk for psychological distress than those who are less affected by the pandemic.…”