The paradoxical effect of COVID-19 outbreak on loneliness
Bartrés-Faz, David (Institut Germans Trias i Pujol. Institut Guttmann)
Macià Bros, Dídac (Universitat de Barcelona)
Cattaneo, Gabriele (Institut Germans Trias i Pujol. Institut Guttmann)
Borràs, Roger (Hospital Clínic i Provincial de Barcelona)
Tarrero, Clara (Institut Germans Trias i Pujol. Institut Guttmann)
Solana-Sánchez, Javier (Institut Germans Trias i Pujol. Institut Guttmann)
Tormos, Jose M. (Institut Germans Trias i Pujol. Institut Guttmann)
Pascual Leone, Álvaro (Institut Germans Trias i Pujol. Institut Guttmann)
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Data:	2021
Resum:	As in previous periods of quarantine, lockdown confinement measures dictated to control SARS-CoV-2 would be expected to negatively affect mental health. We investigated the immediate effects (over a 10 day period) of a strict nationwide stay-at-home order imposed in Spain, one of the countries most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Focusing our analysis on the feelings of loneliness, we obtained our measures within a social context characterised by strong and continuous public and governmental support for increasing social bonds and cooperation in order to face the common public threat. Leveraging data from the Barcelona Brain Health Initiative, a prospective population-based study cohort, the short UCLA Loneliness Scale was administered to 1604 participants 2 years and 1 year before the stay-at-home lockdown and repeated, on average, 10 days after the official confinement order issued by the Spanish government. Ratings of loneliness remained stable during the 2 years before lockdown; however, they decreased significantly during the early stages of home confinement. This effect was particularly significant for the item 'feeling excluded from others' and was also observed among individuals who were confined alone. Overall, the results suggest that gestures and manifestations of appreciation by people for the labour and efforts of certain individuals, along with official campaigns designed to promote feelings of inclusion and belonging, may have beneficial effects on feelings of loneliness, a negative emotional state strongly regarded as a risk factor for impaired mental and general health status. Further assessments during the later stages of home confinement are now warranted.
Ajuts:	Agencia Estatal de Investigación RTI2018-095181-B-C21
Nota:	Altres ajuts: The research leading to these results received funding from 'la Caixa' Foundation (LCF/PR/PR16/11110004), and also from the Guttmann Institute and Fundació Abertis.
Drets:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Llengua:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Matèria:	Psychological testing ; Rating scales ; Social functioning ; Community mental health teams ; Psychosocial interventions
Publicat a:	BJPsych Open, Vol. 7 (january 2021) , ISSN 2056-4724

DOI: 10.1192/bjo.2020.163
PMID: 33427159

4 p, 235.4 KB

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Documents de recerca > Documents dels grups de recerca de la UAB > Centres i grups de recerca (producció científica) > Ciències de la salut i biociències > Institut d'Investigació en Ciencies de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP)
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