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Social Isolation and Loneliness during COVID-19 Lockdown: Associations with Depressive Symptoms in the German Old-Age Population

Author

Listed:
  • Felix Müller

    (Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health (ISAP), Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany)

  • Susanne Röhr

    (Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health (ISAP), Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
    Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI), Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland)

  • Ulrich Reininghaus

    (Department of Public Mental Health, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68159 Mannheim, Germany
    Centre for Epidemiology and Public Health, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London WC2R 2LS, UK
    ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health, King’s College London, London WC2R 2LS, UK)

  • Steffi G. Riedel-Heller

    (Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health (ISAP), Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany)

Abstract

Lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic increase the risk of social isolation and loneliness, which may affect mental wellbeing. Therefore, we aimed to investigate associations between social isolation and loneliness with depressive symptoms in the German old-age population during the first COVID-19 lockdown. A representative sample of randomly selected individuals at least 65 years old ( n = 1005) participated in a computer-assisted standardized telephone interview in April 2020. Sociodemographic data, aspects of the personal life situation, attitudes towards COVID-19 and standardized screening measures on loneliness (UCLA 3-item loneliness scale), depression (Brief Symptom Inventory/BSI-18), and resilience (Brief Resilience Scale/BRS) were assessed. Associations were inspected using multivariate regression models. Being lonely, but not isolated (β = 0.276; p < 0.001) and being both isolated and lonely (β = 0.136; p < 0.001) were associated with higher depressive symptoms. Being isolated, but not lonely was not associated with depressive symptoms. Thus, the subjective emotional evaluation, i.e., feeling lonely, of the social situation during lockdown seems more relevant than the objective state, i.e., being isolated. Normal (β = −0.203; p < 0.001) and high resilience (β = −0.308; p < 0.001) were associated with lower depressive symptoms across groups. Therefore, strengthening coping skills may be a support strategy during lockdowns, especially for lonely older individuals.

Suggested Citation

  • Felix Müller & Susanne Röhr & Ulrich Reininghaus & Steffi G. Riedel-Heller, 2021. "Social Isolation and Loneliness during COVID-19 Lockdown: Associations with Depressive Symptoms in the German Old-Age Population," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-11, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:7:p:3615-:d:527299
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lixia Ge & Chun Wei Yap & Reuben Ong & Bee Hoon Heng, 2017. "Social isolation, loneliness and their relationships with depressive symptoms: A population-based study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(8), pages 1-13, August.
    2. Sheng Zhi Zhao & Janet Yuen Ha Wong & Yongda Wu & Edmond Pui Hang Choi & Man Ping Wang & Tai Hing Lam, 2020. "Social Distancing Compliance under COVID-19 Pandemic and Mental Health Impacts: A Population-Based Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-11, September.
    3. Andrea Chmitorz & Mario Wenzel & Rolf-Dieter Stieglitz & Angela Kunzler & Christiana Bagusat & Isabella Helmreich & Anna Gerlicher & Miriam Kampa & Thomas Kubiak & Raffael Kalisch & Klaus Lieb & Olive, 2018. "Population-based validation of a German version of the Brief Resilience Scale," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(2), pages 1-14, February.
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