Impact of Loneliness and Social Isolation on Mental Health Outcomes Among Individuals With Rheumatic Diseases During the COVID‐19 Pandemic
Objective The study objective was to assess mental and social health outcomes for individuals with rheumatic disease during the COVID‐19 pandemic and evaluate the relationship of loneliness and social isolation with depression and anxiety. Methods We administered an international cross‐sectional onl...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2023-05-01
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| Series: | ACR Open Rheumatology |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/acr2.11539 |
| _version_ | 1827947276359696384 |
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| author | Alyssa Howren J. Antonio Avina‐Zubieta Joseph H. Puyat Deborah Da Costa Hui Xie Eileen Davidson Nevena Rebić Louise Gastonguay Hallie Dau Mary A. De Vera |
| author_facet | Alyssa Howren J. Antonio Avina‐Zubieta Joseph H. Puyat Deborah Da Costa Hui Xie Eileen Davidson Nevena Rebić Louise Gastonguay Hallie Dau Mary A. De Vera |
| author_sort | Alyssa Howren |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective The study objective was to assess mental and social health outcomes for individuals with rheumatic disease during the COVID‐19 pandemic and evaluate the relationship of loneliness and social isolation with depression and anxiety. Methods We administered an international cross‐sectional online survey to individuals with rheumatic disease(s) (≥18 years) between April 2020 and September 2020, with a follow‐up survey from December 2020 to February 2021. We used questionnaires to evaluate loneliness (3‐item UCLA Loneliness Scale [UCLA‐3]), social isolation (Lubben Social Network Scale [LSNS‐6]), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ‐9]), and anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7‐item [GAD‐7] Scale). We used multivariable linear regression models to evaluate the cross‐sectional associations of loneliness and social isolation with depression and anxiety at baseline. Results Seven hundred eighteen individuals (91.4% women, mean age: 45.4 ± 14.2 years) participated in the baseline survey, and 344 completed the follow‐up survey. Overall, 51.1% of participants experienced loneliness (UCLA‐3 score ≥6) and 30.3% experienced social isolation (LSNS‐6 score <12) at baseline. Depression (PHQ‐9 score ≥10) and anxiety (GAD‐7 score ≥10) were experienced by 42.8% and 34.0% of participants at baseline, respectively. Multivariable models showed that experiencing both loneliness and social isolation, in comparison to experiencing neither, was significantly associated with an average 7.27 higher depression score (ß = 7.27; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.08‐8.47) and 5.14 higher anxiety score (ß = 5.14; 95% CI: 4.00‐6.28). Conclusion Aside from showing substantial experience of loneliness and social isolation during the COVID‐19 pandemic, our survey showed significant associations with depression and anxiety. Patient supports to address social health have potential implications for also supporting mental health. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T12:37:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5a6da62fb2e741f780893153dae5d406 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2578-5745 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T12:37:32Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | ACR Open Rheumatology |
| spelling | doaj.art-5a6da62fb2e741f780893153dae5d4062023-05-15T08:40:53ZengWileyACR Open Rheumatology2578-57452023-05-015524325010.1002/acr2.11539Impact of Loneliness and Social Isolation on Mental Health Outcomes Among Individuals With Rheumatic Diseases During the COVID‐19 PandemicAlyssa Howren0J. Antonio Avina‐Zubieta1Joseph H. Puyat2Deborah Da Costa3Hui Xie4Eileen Davidson5Nevena Rebić6Louise Gastonguay7Hallie Dau8Mary A. De Vera9University of British Columbia, Collaboration for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, and Arthritis Research Canada British Columbia Vancouver CanadaUniversity of British Columbia and Arthritis Research Canada British Columbia Vancouver CanadaUniversity of British Columbia and Centre for Health Evaluation & Outcome Sciences British Columbia Vancouver CanadaMcGill University Quebec Montreal CanadaArthritis Research Canada, Vancouver, and Simon Fraser University British Columbia Burnaby CanadaArthritis Research Canada British Columbia Vancouver CanadaUniversity of British Columbia, Collaboration for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, and Arthritis Research Canada British Columbia Vancouver CanadaUniversity of British Columbia and Collaboration for Outcomes Research and Evaluation British Columbia Vancouver CanadaUniversity of British Columbia and Collaboration for Outcomes Research and Evaluation British Columbia Vancouver CanadaUniversity of British Columbia, Collaboration for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Arthritis Research Canada, and Centre for Health Evaluation & Outcome Sciences British Columbia Vancouver CanadaObjective The study objective was to assess mental and social health outcomes for individuals with rheumatic disease during the COVID‐19 pandemic and evaluate the relationship of loneliness and social isolation with depression and anxiety. Methods We administered an international cross‐sectional online survey to individuals with rheumatic disease(s) (≥18 years) between April 2020 and September 2020, with a follow‐up survey from December 2020 to February 2021. We used questionnaires to evaluate loneliness (3‐item UCLA Loneliness Scale [UCLA‐3]), social isolation (Lubben Social Network Scale [LSNS‐6]), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ‐9]), and anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7‐item [GAD‐7] Scale). We used multivariable linear regression models to evaluate the cross‐sectional associations of loneliness and social isolation with depression and anxiety at baseline. Results Seven hundred eighteen individuals (91.4% women, mean age: 45.4 ± 14.2 years) participated in the baseline survey, and 344 completed the follow‐up survey. Overall, 51.1% of participants experienced loneliness (UCLA‐3 score ≥6) and 30.3% experienced social isolation (LSNS‐6 score <12) at baseline. Depression (PHQ‐9 score ≥10) and anxiety (GAD‐7 score ≥10) were experienced by 42.8% and 34.0% of participants at baseline, respectively. Multivariable models showed that experiencing both loneliness and social isolation, in comparison to experiencing neither, was significantly associated with an average 7.27 higher depression score (ß = 7.27; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.08‐8.47) and 5.14 higher anxiety score (ß = 5.14; 95% CI: 4.00‐6.28). Conclusion Aside from showing substantial experience of loneliness and social isolation during the COVID‐19 pandemic, our survey showed significant associations with depression and anxiety. Patient supports to address social health have potential implications for also supporting mental health.https://doi.org/10.1002/acr2.11539 |
| spellingShingle | Alyssa Howren J. Antonio Avina‐Zubieta Joseph H. Puyat Deborah Da Costa Hui Xie Eileen Davidson Nevena Rebić Louise Gastonguay Hallie Dau Mary A. De Vera Impact of Loneliness and Social Isolation on Mental Health Outcomes Among Individuals With Rheumatic Diseases During the COVID‐19 Pandemic ACR Open Rheumatology |
| title | Impact of Loneliness and Social Isolation on Mental Health Outcomes Among Individuals With Rheumatic Diseases During the COVID‐19 Pandemic |
| title_full | Impact of Loneliness and Social Isolation on Mental Health Outcomes Among Individuals With Rheumatic Diseases During the COVID‐19 Pandemic |
| title_fullStr | Impact of Loneliness and Social Isolation on Mental Health Outcomes Among Individuals With Rheumatic Diseases During the COVID‐19 Pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of Loneliness and Social Isolation on Mental Health Outcomes Among Individuals With Rheumatic Diseases During the COVID‐19 Pandemic |
| title_short | Impact of Loneliness and Social Isolation on Mental Health Outcomes Among Individuals With Rheumatic Diseases During the COVID‐19 Pandemic |
| title_sort | impact of loneliness and social isolation on mental health outcomes among individuals with rheumatic diseases during the covid 19 pandemic |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/acr2.11539 |
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