Loneliness levels high during COVID-19 lockdown
More than a quarter of respondents were defined as lonely in UK survey


Date:
September 24, 2020
Source:
PLOS
Summary:
During the initial phase of COVID-19 lockdown, rates of loneliness
among people in the UK were high and were associated with a number
of social and health factors, according to a new study.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== During the initial phase of COVID-19 lockdown, rates of loneliness among
people in the UK were high and were associated with a number of social
and health factors, according to a new study published this week in
the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Jenny Groarke of Queen's University Belfast, UK, and colleagues.


========================================================================== Loneliness is a significant public health issue and is associated
with worse physical and mental health as well as increased mortality
risk. Systematic review findings recommend that interventions addressing loneliness should focus on individuals who are socially isolated. However, researchers have lacked a comprehensive understanding of how vulnerability
to loneliness might be different in the context of a pandemic.

In the new study, researchers used an online survey to collect data about
UK adults during the initial phase of COVID-19 lockdown in the country,
from March 23 to April 24, 2020. 1,964 eligible participants responded
to the survey, answering questions about loneliness, sociodemographic
factors, health, and their status in relation to COVID-19. Participants
were aged 18 to 87 years old (average 37.11), were mostly white (92.7%),
female (70.4%), not religious (57.5%) and the majority were employed
(71.9%).

The overall prevalence of loneliness, defined as having a high score
on the loneliness scale (ie., a score of 7 or higher out of 9), was
over a quarter of respondents: 26.6%. In the week prior to completing
the survey, 49% to 70% of respondents reported feeling isolated, left
out or lacking companionship. Risk factors for loneliness were being
in a younger age group (aOR: 4.67 -- 5.31), being separated or divorced
(OR: 2.29), meeting clinical criteria for depression (OR: 1.74), greater emotion regulation difficulties (OR: 1.04), and poor-quality sleep due
to the COVID-19 crisis (OR: 1.30). Higher levels of social support (OR:
0.92), being married/co-habiting (OR: 0.35) and living with a greater
number of adults (OR: 0.87) were protective factors.

The authors hope that these findings can inform support strategies and
help to target those most vulnerable to loneliness during the pandemic.

Groarke adds: "We found that rates of loneliness during the early
stages of the UK lockdown were high. Our results suggest that
supports and interventions to reduce loneliness should prioritise
young people, those with mental health symptoms, and people who are
socially isolated. Supports aimed at improving emotion regulation,
sleep quality and increasing social support could reduce the impact of
physical distancing regulations on mental health outcomes."

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by PLOS. Note: Content may be edited
for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Jenny M. Groarke, Emma Berry, Lisa Graham-Wisener, Phoebe
E. McKenna-
Plumley, Emily McGlinchey, Cherie Armour. Loneliness in the UK
during the COVID-19 pandemic: Cross-sectional results from the
COVID-19 Psychological Wellbeing Study. PLOS ONE, 2020; 15 (9):
e0239698 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0239698 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200924141620.htm

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