Dataset Information

Self-quarantining, social distancing, and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: A multi wave, longitudinal investigation.

ABSTRACT: Social isolation and disconnectedness increase the risk of worse mental health, which might suggest that preventive health measures (i.e., self-quarantining, social distancing) negatively affect mental health. This longitudinal study examined relations of self-quarantining and social distancing with mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. A U.S. national sample (N = 1,011) completed eight weekly online surveys from March 20, 2020 to May 17, 2020. Surveys assessed self-quarantining, social distancing, anxiety, and depression. Fixed-effect autoregressive cross-lagged models provided a good fit to the data, allowing for disaggregation of between-person and within-person effects. Significant between-person effects suggested those who engaged in more self-quarantining and social distancing had higher anxiety and depression compared to those who engaged in less social distancing and quarantining. Significant within-person effects indicated those who engaged in greater social distancing for a given week experienced higher anxiety and depression that week. However, there was no support for self-quarantining or social distancing as prospective predictors of mental health, or vice versa. Findings suggest a relationship between mental health and both self-quarantining and social distancing, but further longitudinal research is required to understand the prospective nature of this relationship and identify third variables that may explain these associations.

SUBMITTER: Lee J

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10896532 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Self-quarantining, social distancing, and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: A multi wave, longitudinal investigation.

Lee Jerin J Wilson Jenna J Oosterhoff Benjamin B Shook Natalie J NJ

PloS one 20240226 2

Social isolation and disconnectedness increase the risk of worse mental health, which might suggest that preventive health measures (i.e., self-quarantining, social distancing) negatively affect mental health. This longitudinal study examined relations of self-quarantining and social distancing with mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. A U.S. national sample (N = 1,011) completed eight weekly online surveys from March 20, 2020 to May 17, 2020. Surveys assessed self-quarantining, social di ...[more]

PMID: 38408111

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Project description:BackgroundImplementing and lifting social distancing (LSD) is an urgent global issue during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly when the travel ban is lifted to revive international businesses and economies. However, when and whether LSD can be considered is subject to the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the recovery rate, and the case-fatality rate. It is imperative to provide real-time assessment of three factors to guide LSD.ObjectiveA simple LSD index was developed for health decision makers to do real-time assessment of COVID-19 at the global, country, region, and community level.MethodsData on the retrospective cohort of 186 countries with three factors were retrieved from a publicly available repository from January to early July. A simple index for guiding LSD was measured by the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases and recoveries, and the case-fatality rate was envisaged. If the LSD index was less than 1, LSD can be considered. The dynamic changes of the COVID-19 pandemic were evaluated to assess whether and when health decision makers allowed for LSD and when to reimplement social distancing after resurgences of the epidemic.ResultsAfter large-scale outbreaks in a few countries before mid-March (prepandemic phase), the global weekly LSD index peaked at 4.27 in March and lasted until mid-June (pandemic phase), during which most countries were affected and needed to take various social distancing measures. Since, the value of LSD has gradually declined to 0.99 on July 5 (postpandemic phase), at which 64.7% (120/186) of countries and regions had an LSD<1 with the decile between 0 and 1 to refine risk stratification by countries. The LSD index decreased to 1 in about 115 days. In addition, we present the results of dynamic changes of the LSD index for the world and for each country and region with different time windows from January to July 5. The results of the LSD index on the resurgence of the COVID-19 epidemic in certain regions and validation by other emerging infectious diseases are presented.ConclusionsThis simple LSD index provides a quantitative assessment of whether and when to ease or implement social distancing to provide advice for health decision makers and travelers.

Project description:IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic has led to the implementation of social distancing measures on an unprecedented scale, but their impacts on the mental health of the general public, especially in places with strict and prolonged restrictions, are not well understood. This study explored the Hong Kong public's views on social distancing measures that were implemented approximately two years into the pandemic and examined how these perceptions influence their stay-at-home motivation and mental health based on Protection Motivation Theory (PMT).DesignA two-phase sequential exploratory mixed-methods study was conducted.SettingData were collected as part of a larger study of a universal online public health campaign in Hong Kong.ParticipantsFirst, qualitative interviews with 26 participants from diverse backgrounds explored their views on COVID-19 and social distancing measures. Subsequently, a quantitative online survey of 1025 participants from the general population examined the relationship between PMT constructs, stay-at-home motivation, and mental health.Outcome measuresMental health and PMT constructs, including protective motivation, perceived severity, perceived vulnerability, self-efficacy, response cost, and response efficacy.ResultsThe qualitative results identified three themes: 'the inescapable and unpredictable nature of COVID-19', 'stay-at-home impacts all facets of life', and 'the realities and challenges of social distancing during a pandemic'. Subsequently, quantitative findings showed that most PMT constructs, such as perceived severity (ß=0.21, 95% CI=0.15-0.27), perceived vulnerability (ß=0.24, 95% CI=0.18-0.30), self-efficacy (ß=0.27, 95% CI=0.20-0.34) and response efficacy (ß=0.09, 95% CI=0.02-0.15), were associated with stay-at-home motivation (all p<0.01), except for response cost. Higher perceived severity (ß=1.42-1.74), perceived vulnerability (ß=0.93-1.36), and response cost (ß=1.29-1.64) were associated with poorer mental health.ConclusionThis study examined the public perceptions and experiences of strict and prolonged social distancing measures two years into a global pandemic. The findings highlighted the significance of using the PMT model to understand the factors influencing stay-at-home intentions and their mental health during the pandemic. The findings provide valuable insights to guide the development and implementation of future public health interventions.

Dataset Information

Self-quarantining, social distancing, and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: A multi wave, longitudinal investigation.

Publications

Self-quarantining, social distancing, and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: A multi wave, longitudinal investigation.

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