Social isolation, loneliness, socioeconomic status, and health-risk behaviour in deprived neighbourhoods in Denmark: A cross-sectional study

Algren, Maria Holst; Ekholm, Ola; Nielsen, Line; Ersbøll, Annette Kjær; Bak, Carsten Kronborg; Andersen, Pernille Tanggaard

doi:10.1016/j.ssmph.2020.100546

Cited by 94 publications

(100 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…However, during quarantine, loneliness may be considered a temporary psychological response to a change in an individual's social environment. Previous research showed that loneliness may act as a stressor (Algren et al, 2020 ) that produces negative affects, such as higher levels of perceived stress (Kearns et al, 2015 ). Similarly, mandatory prohibitions against praying in a church during the quarantine compromised the religious lifestyle and increased the anxiety of religious individuals (aChord Center, 2020 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perceived Impact of Quarantine on Loneliness, Death Obsession, and Preoccupation With God: Predictors of Increased Fear of COVID-19

et al. 2021

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Most countries are facing the societal challenging need for a new quarantine period due to the increasing number of COVID-19 infections, indicating a second or even third wave of disease. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the surface existential issues that are typically less present in people's focal attention. The first aim of this study was to identify some of these existential struggles such as increased feelings of loneliness, death obsession, and preoccupation with God. Secondly, we explored the association of these factors with the increased fear of coronavirus during the quarantine. Data was collected from 1,340 Romanian adults using a cross-sectional web-based survey design in the midst of the national lockdown period of COVID-19. Participants completed measures of COVID-19 related loneliness, death obsession, and preoccupation with God twice; first, thinking about the period before the pandemic, and second, for the current situation during the quarantine. Then, they completed a fear of COVID-19 measure. Participants perceived an increase in the feelings of loneliness, death obsession, and preoccupation with God during the confinement. Furthermore, gender, knowing someone diagnosed with COVID-19, loneliness, death obsession, and preoccupation with God predicted fear of COVID-19. Interestingly, days in isolation did not predict fear of COVID-19 nor were associated with feelings of loneliness. In line with existential positive psychology, these results highlight the importance of policies and interventions targeting the experience of loneliness, spiritual beliefs, and particularly those aimed to promote death acceptance, in order to alleviate intense fear of COVID-19.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perceived Impact of Quarantine on Loneliness, Death Obsession, and Preoccupation With God: Predictors of Increased Fear of COVID-19

et al. 2021

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“…Questions pertaining to emotional and sexual states ( Downing et al, 2014 ) were also asked in order to assess when individuals were more likely to view internet pornography (e.g., with a sexual partner, bored, etc.). Two modifications were made to the original questions, the first being that alone was split into two separate questions: by myself and lonely , given the distinction between the two states ( Algren et al, 2020 ). The word Horny was also modified to feeling sexually aroused .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Compulsive Internet Pornography Use and Mental Health: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Sample of University Students in the United States

2021

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BackgroundThe sustained rise in negative mental health reports among university students is a source of continued global concern, and investigation continues into potential contributors to this rise. This includes the increased prevalence of risky sexual behaviors. Related is the increased prevalence of pornography use. Our study sought to explore the potential relationship between compulsive use of pornography and mental health in university students.MethodsOur sample consisted of university students (N = 1031; 34% male, 66% female) from Franciscan University of Steubenville, Steubenville, Ohio. An anonymous survey was sent to all students at the university over the age of 18. The survey was comprised of the following: (1) demographic questions, (2) questions on pornography use and perception, (3) a modified version of the Compulsive Internet Use Scale (mCIUS) assessing various factors associated with compulsive internet pornography use, (4) questions assessing emotional and sexual states relative to pornography use (EmSS), and (5) the 21-question version of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21).ResultsOur results indicate that 56.6% of those surveyed reported lifetime pornography use, with a significantly higher proportion of males than females reporting such use. The majority of students reported accessing pornography through internet-related technologies. Additionally, 17.0, 20.4, and 13.5% of students reported severe or extremely severe levels of depression, anxiety and stress, respectively, with compulsive pornography use significantly affecting all three mental health parameters in both sexes. Exploratory Factor Analysis identified three factors suggesting emotional coping, dependence and preoccupation for the mCIUS items and three factors reflecting interoceptive, impotent, and extrinsic characteristics for the EmSS items. Regression analysis indicated that various demographics, items pertaining to reduced control and social impairment, and other variables pertaining to pornography use predicted mental health outcomes. Faith, morals and personal motivation were the primary variables reported to help reduce pornography use.ConclusionOur analyses indicate a significant relationship between mental health and pornography use, including behaviors reflecting behavioral addictions, highlighting the necessity for a better understanding and consideration of the potential contribution of internet pornography to negative mental health among university students.

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“…The variables for adjustments were chosen based on their possible connection with either loneliness or depression. Altogether, nine models were constructed (Table 2): the basic model (Model 1) was adjusted for age and year of examination; in the SES model (Model 2) [5], SES scores were added to Model 1 to investigate the possible confounding effect of socioeconomic status. In the lifestyle model (Model 3), alcohol consumption [23], smoking [24], and physical activity [11] were added to Model 1 to investigate the possible confounding effects of lifestyle factors.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Loneliness has been described as dissatisfaction with the discrepancy between desired and actual social relationships [1,2]. According to previous studies, loneliness is associated with negative health behavior [3], various health problems and physiological changes [4], and a lower socioeconomic status [5]. A connection between loneliness and depression was already suggested in the 1980s [6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Depression and loneliness may have a direct connection without mediating factors

Kraav

Lehto

Junttila

et al. 2021

Nordic Journal of Psychiatry

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Purpose of the article: There is growing interest in loneliness and its various adverse effects on mental and physical health. While depression is one of the adverse health effects associated with loneliness, there have been some limitations in previous studies: 1) Research has mostly been carried out either in depressed patient samples or in general population samples with depressive symptoms as an outcome, 2) the follow-up times have been rather short, and 3) the mechanisms through which loneliness associates with depression are still unclear. Materials and methods: We examined the association between loneliness and incident depression and possible mechanisms underlying this association in a population-based sample of middle-aged men (N ¼ 2339; mean age 53; mean follow-up time 23.5 years). The association between loneliness and depression was explored with Cox proportional hazard analysis, and mediation analyses were performed with the PROCESS macro for SPSS. We used 13 health and lifestyle-related variables as covariates for adjustments in multivariate models and as mediators in simple mediation models. Results: Those with depression as an outcome (n ¼ 99) had significantly higher loneliness scale scores at baseline, and baseline loneliness was associated with depression, despite adjustments for potential confounding factors. No mediating factors were observed. Conclusions: There was a strong direct association between loneliness and the incidence of depression. Based on our results, we encourage future researchers to look for possible mediators in wider range of variables.

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Social isolation, loneliness, socioeconomic status, and health-risk behaviour in deprived neighbourhoods in Denmark: A cross-sectional study

Cited by 94 publications

References 55 publications

Perceived Impact of Quarantine on Loneliness, Death Obsession, and Preoccupation With God: Predictors of Increased Fear of COVID-19

Perceived Impact of Quarantine on Loneliness, Death Obsession, and Preoccupation With God: Predictors of Increased Fear of COVID-19

Compulsive Internet Pornography Use and Mental Health: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Sample of University Students in the United States

Depression and loneliness may have a direct connection without mediating factors

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