TY - JOUR
T1 - Associations of loneliness, belongingness and health behaviors with psychological distress and wellbeing during COVID-19
AU - McCallum, Sonia M.
AU - Calear, Alison L.
AU - Cherbuin, Nicolas
AU - Farrer, Louise M.
AU - Gulliver, Amelia
AU - Shou, Yiyun
AU - Dawel, Amy
AU - Batterham, Philip J.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Authors
PY - 2021/12
Y1 - 2021/12
N2 - Background: The aim of this study was to assess the effects of loneliness, belongingness and other modifiable factors on psychological distress and wellbeing and whether the effects of COVID-19 modulated these relationships. Methods: The current study reported on 1217 participants aged 18 years or older who completed an online survey from 28 to 31 March 2020. Survey measures included demographic characteristics; exposure to COVID-19; impact of COVID-19 on employment, finance, and work and social adjustment; loneliness, thwarted belongingness, and health behavior changes as modifiable factors. Outcome measures were psychological distress and wellbeing. Results: Linear regression models revealed that COVID-19 related work and social adjustment difficulties, financial distress, loneliness, thwarted belongingness, eating a less healthy diet poorer sleep and being female were all associated with increased psychological distress and reduced wellbeing (p < 0.05). Psychological distress was more elevated for those with high difficulties adjusting to COVID-19 and high levels of thwarted belongingness (p < 0.005). Similarly, as COVID-19 related work and social adjustment difficulties increased, wellbeing reduced. This was more pronounced in those who felt lower levels of loneliness (p < 0.0001). Other interactions between COVID-19 impacts were observed with gender and poorer diet for psychological distress and cigarette use, age and gender for wellbeing (p < 0.05). Limitations: The study was cross-sectional, preventing causal interpretation of the relationships. Conclusion: Modifiable factors, age and gender had significant impacts on psychological distress and wellbeing. Public health and policy approaches to improving social, economic and lifestyle factors may mitigate the negative mental health effects of the pandemic and its restrictions.
AB - Background: The aim of this study was to assess the effects of loneliness, belongingness and other modifiable factors on psychological distress and wellbeing and whether the effects of COVID-19 modulated these relationships. Methods: The current study reported on 1217 participants aged 18 years or older who completed an online survey from 28 to 31 March 2020. Survey measures included demographic characteristics; exposure to COVID-19; impact of COVID-19 on employment, finance, and work and social adjustment; loneliness, thwarted belongingness, and health behavior changes as modifiable factors. Outcome measures were psychological distress and wellbeing. Results: Linear regression models revealed that COVID-19 related work and social adjustment difficulties, financial distress, loneliness, thwarted belongingness, eating a less healthy diet poorer sleep and being female were all associated with increased psychological distress and reduced wellbeing (p < 0.05). Psychological distress was more elevated for those with high difficulties adjusting to COVID-19 and high levels of thwarted belongingness (p < 0.005). Similarly, as COVID-19 related work and social adjustment difficulties increased, wellbeing reduced. This was more pronounced in those who felt lower levels of loneliness (p < 0.0001). Other interactions between COVID-19 impacts were observed with gender and poorer diet for psychological distress and cigarette use, age and gender for wellbeing (p < 0.05). Limitations: The study was cross-sectional, preventing causal interpretation of the relationships. Conclusion: Modifiable factors, age and gender had significant impacts on psychological distress and wellbeing. Public health and policy approaches to improving social, economic and lifestyle factors may mitigate the negative mental health effects of the pandemic and its restrictions.
KW - Belongingness
KW - COVID-19
KW - Health behaviors
KW - Loneliness
KW - Psychological distress
KW - Wellbeing
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85125606264&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jadr.2021.100214
DO - 10.1016/j.jadr.2021.100214
M3 - Article
SN - 0941-9500
VL - 6
JO - Journal of Affective Disorders Reports
JF - Journal of Affective Disorders Reports
M1 - 100214
ER -