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One Month into the Reinforcement of Social Distancing due to the COVID-19 Outbreak: Subjective Health, Health Behaviors, and Loneliness among People with Chronic Medical Conditions

Author

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  • Roni Elran-Barak

    (School of Public Health, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel)

  • Maya Mozeikov

    (School of Public Health, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel)

Abstract

We sought to examine how the near-lockdown measures, announced by the Israeli government in an effort to contain the COVID-19 outbreak, impacted the self-rated health (SRH), health behaviors, and loneliness of people with chronic illnesses. An online cross-sectional survey was carried out about one month (20–22 April 2020) after the Israeli government reinforced the severe social distancing regulations, among a convenience sample of 315 participants (60% women) with chronic conditions (27% metabolic, 17% cardiovascular, 21% cancer/autoimmune, 18% orthopedic/pain, 12% mental-health). Results suggested that about half of the participants reported a decline in physical or mental SRH, and as many as two-thirds reported feeling lonely. A significant deterioration in health behaviors was reported, including a decrease in vegetable consumption ( p = 0.008) and physical activity ( p < 0.001), an increase in time spent on social media ( p < 0.001), and a perception among about half of the participants that they were eating more than before. Ordinal regression suggested that a decline in general SRH was linked with female gender ( p = 0.016), lack of higher education ( p = 0.015), crowded housing conditions ( p = 0.001), longer illness duration ( p = 0.010), and loneliness ( p = 0.008). Findings highlight the important role of loneliness in SRH during the COVID-19 lockdown period. Future studies are warranted to clarify the long-term effects of social-distancing and loneliness on people with chronic illnesses.

Suggested Citation

  • Roni Elran-Barak & Maya Mozeikov, 2020. "One Month into the Reinforcement of Social Distancing due to the COVID-19 Outbreak: Subjective Health, Health Behaviors, and Loneliness among People with Chronic Medical Conditions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-16, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:15:p:5403-:d:390519
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Lepinteur, Anthony & Clark, Andrew E. & Ferrer-i-Carbonell, Ada & Piper, Alan & Schröder, Carsten & D'Ambrosio, Conchita, 2022. "Gender, loneliness and happiness during COVID-19," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
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    6. Laura Pérez-Gisbert & Irene Torres-Sánchez & Araceli Ortiz-Rubio & Andrés Calvache-Mateo & Laura López-López & Irene Cabrera-Martos & Marie Carmen Valenza, 2021. "Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Physical Activity in Chronic Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-18, November.

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