Loneliness and suicide risks in the general population before and during first-year COVID-19 in Taiwan
Purpose: Loneliness is a critical issue affecting the general population. Current evidence from national surveys of loneliness is scarce. The study aimed to examine the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the prevalence of loneliness and its associating suicide risks in Taiwan. Methods: Four annual telep...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-04-01
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| Series: | Journal of the Formosan Medical Association |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0929664623004941 |
| _version_ | 1797215955721388032 |
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| author | Wei-Chieh Hung Chia-Yi Wu Ming-Been Lee Chia-Ta Chan Chun-Ying Chen |
| author_facet | Wei-Chieh Hung Chia-Yi Wu Ming-Been Lee Chia-Ta Chan Chun-Ying Chen |
| author_sort | Wei-Chieh Hung |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Purpose: Loneliness is a critical issue affecting the general population. Current evidence from national surveys of loneliness is scarce. The study aimed to examine the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the prevalence of loneliness and its associating suicide risks in Taiwan. Methods: Four annual telephone interview surveys were performed by the Taiwan Suicide Prevention Center in 2015–2017 and 2020 during COVID outbreak. Each year the sample was randomly selected by stratifying the general public in different geographical areas and fulfilled a questionnaire collecting information including loneliness, psychological distress, and suicide risk assessment. All the data were analyzed using SPSS25 analysis. Results: A total of 8460 participants were recruited. The average prevalence of loneliness was 12.6 %. Feelings of loneliness was significantly correlated with psychological distress and most risk factors relating to suicide. The odds of loneliness for lifetime suicidal ideation, lifetime suicide attempt, and future suicide intent were 4.9, 5.1, and 9.2, respectively. During the COVID-19 period, loneliness and suicidality demonstrated a noteworthy decline trend, whereas “no one trustworthy to talk to” was the only item that showed significant increase under the pandemic and also impacted on loneliness. Conclusion: Nearly one in ten Taiwanese people felt lonely before and during COVID-19. Loneliness was closely linked with various suicide risk factors such as lifetime suicide ideation and attempt or future intention. Although psychological distress and suicide risk were not increased during COVID-19, maintaining trustful relationships to seek support appeared to be critical to prevent the risks of loneliness or suicide. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T11:38:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5ed3b9d46259434bb27022233a0cbad0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0929-6646 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T11:38:17Z |
| publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of the Formosan Medical Association |
| spelling | doaj.art-5ed3b9d46259434bb27022233a0cbad02024-04-10T04:28:34ZengElsevierJournal of the Formosan Medical Association0929-66462024-04-011234510516Loneliness and suicide risks in the general population before and during first-year COVID-19 in TaiwanWei-Chieh Hung0Chia-Yi Wu1Ming-Been Lee2Chia-Ta Chan3Chun-Ying Chen4School of Nursing, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Nursing, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, TaiwanSchool of Nursing, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Nursing, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Taiwanese Society of Suicidology & Taiwan Suicide Prevention Center, Taipei, Taiwan; Corresponding author. 100233 No.1 Jen Ai road section 1 Taipei 100, Taiwan.Taiwanese Society of Suicidology & Taiwan Suicide Prevention Center, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Shin Kong Wu Ho Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei, TaiwanTaiwanese Society of Suicidology & Taiwan Suicide Prevention Center, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Shin Kong Wu Ho Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei, TaiwanTaiwanese Society of Suicidology & Taiwan Suicide Prevention Center, Taipei, TaiwanPurpose: Loneliness is a critical issue affecting the general population. Current evidence from national surveys of loneliness is scarce. The study aimed to examine the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the prevalence of loneliness and its associating suicide risks in Taiwan. Methods: Four annual telephone interview surveys were performed by the Taiwan Suicide Prevention Center in 2015–2017 and 2020 during COVID outbreak. Each year the sample was randomly selected by stratifying the general public in different geographical areas and fulfilled a questionnaire collecting information including loneliness, psychological distress, and suicide risk assessment. All the data were analyzed using SPSS25 analysis. Results: A total of 8460 participants were recruited. The average prevalence of loneliness was 12.6 %. Feelings of loneliness was significantly correlated with psychological distress and most risk factors relating to suicide. The odds of loneliness for lifetime suicidal ideation, lifetime suicide attempt, and future suicide intent were 4.9, 5.1, and 9.2, respectively. During the COVID-19 period, loneliness and suicidality demonstrated a noteworthy decline trend, whereas “no one trustworthy to talk to” was the only item that showed significant increase under the pandemic and also impacted on loneliness. Conclusion: Nearly one in ten Taiwanese people felt lonely before and during COVID-19. Loneliness was closely linked with various suicide risk factors such as lifetime suicide ideation and attempt or future intention. Although psychological distress and suicide risk were not increased during COVID-19, maintaining trustful relationships to seek support appeared to be critical to prevent the risks of loneliness or suicide.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0929664623004941LonelinessPrevalenceSuicide risk factorsPsychological distressGeneral populationCOVID-19 |
| spellingShingle | Wei-Chieh Hung Chia-Yi Wu Ming-Been Lee Chia-Ta Chan Chun-Ying Chen Loneliness and suicide risks in the general population before and during first-year COVID-19 in Taiwan Journal of the Formosan Medical Association Loneliness Prevalence Suicide risk factors Psychological distress General population COVID-19 |
| title | Loneliness and suicide risks in the general population before and during first-year COVID-19 in Taiwan |
| title_full | Loneliness and suicide risks in the general population before and during first-year COVID-19 in Taiwan |
| title_fullStr | Loneliness and suicide risks in the general population before and during first-year COVID-19 in Taiwan |
| title_full_unstemmed | Loneliness and suicide risks in the general population before and during first-year COVID-19 in Taiwan |
| title_short | Loneliness and suicide risks in the general population before and during first-year COVID-19 in Taiwan |
| title_sort | loneliness and suicide risks in the general population before and during first year covid 19 in taiwan |
| topic | Loneliness Prevalence Suicide risk factors Psychological distress General population COVID-19 |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0929664623004941 |
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