No buffer effect of perceived social support for people exposed to violence during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional community study Falta de efecto de modulación del apoyo social percibido para las personas expuestas a violencia durante la pandemia de COVID-19: Un estudio comunitario transversal COVID-19 疫情期间遭受暴力的人的领悟社会支持没有缓冲效应:一项横断面社区研究

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has represented a burden to communities worldwide. Research indicates that this burden is not equally distributed in the community, and vulnerable groups, such as violence-exposed individuals may pay a particularly high prize. Perceived social support is known to buffer against negative effects of trauma and adversity, but it is not clear whether this is the case during times of social restrictions and lockdowns. In this study, we tested if perceived social support could buffer the link between pandemic worry and psychological distress in a community sample and in the subgroup exposed to violence during the pandemic. Methods A stratified, presumed representative sample of the Norwegian population (N = 1,041, response rate = 39.9%) responded to a cross-sectional web survey in May 2020. Fifty-nine participants (5.7%) had been exposed to physical, sexual, and/or psychological violence during the last month. Results Current violence, pandemic worry, and perceived social support were independently associated with psychological distress. In the total sample, perceived social support moderated the relationship between pandemic worry and psychological distress. However, this was not found in individuals who were exposed to current violence. Conclusions Even though high levels of perceived social support can protect against psychological distress in the face of pandemic worry in the community, it seems that this resource is not as useful for individuals exposed to current violence. Outreach health and care services are warranted to support the needs of this particular vulnerable group. HIGHLIGHTS Perceived social support seems to buffer against pandemic worry in the community, but not for victims of violence. It may be necessary for care and health services to follow an active outreach strategy to support this particularly vulnerable group.

No buffer effect of perceived social support for people exposed to violence during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional community study.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has represented a burden to communities worldwide. Research indicates that this burden is not equally distributed in the community, and vulnerable groups, such as violence-exposed individuals may pay a particularly high prize. Perceived social support is known to buffer against negative effects of trauma and adversity, but it is not clear whether this is the case during times of social restrictions and lockdowns. In this study, we tested if perceived social support could buffer the link between pandemic worry and psychological distress in a community sample and in the subgroup exposed to violence during the pandemic. Methods: A stratified, presumed representative sample of the Norwegian population (N = 1,041, response rate = 39.9%) responded to a cross-sectional web survey in May 2020. Fifty-nine participants (5.7%) had been exposed to physical, sexual, and/or psychological violence during the last month. Results: Current violence, pandemic worry, and perceived social support were independently associated with psychological distress. In the total sample, perceived social support moderated the relationship between pandemic worry and psychological distress. However, this was not found in individuals who were exposed to current violence. Conclusions: Even though high levels of perceived social support can protect against psychological distress in the face of pandemic worry in the community, it seems that this resource is not as useful for individuals exposed to current violence. Outreach health and care services are warranted to support the needs of this particular vulnerable group.

Antecedentes: La pandemia de COVID-19 ha representado una carga para las comunidades alrededor del mundo. La investigación indica que esta carga no se distribuye equitativamente en la comunidad, y los grupos vulnerables, como los individuos expuestos a violencia pueden pagar un precio particularmente alto. Se sabe que el apoyo social percibido actúa como modulador en contra los efectos negativos del trauma y la adversidad, pero no está claro si este es el caso durante periodos de restricciones sociales y confinamientos. En este estudio, evaluamos si el apoyo social percibido podría modular la asociación entre la preocupación pandémica y el sufrimiento psicológico en una muestra de la comunidad y en el subgrupo expuesto a violencia durante la pandemia.Métodos: Una muestra estratificada, que se presume representativa de la población noruega (N = 1,041, tasa de respuesta = 39,9%) respondió una encuesta web transversal en mayo de 2020. Cincuenta y nueve participantes (5.7%) habían estado expuestos a violencia física, sexual, y/o psicológica durante el último mes.Resultados: La violencia actual, la preocupación pandémica y el apoyo social percibido se asociaron de forma independiente al sufrimiento psicológico. En la muestra total, el apoyo social percibido moderó la relación entre la preocupación pandémica y el sufrimiento psicológico. Sin embargo, esto no fue encontrado en individuos que estaban expuestos a violencia actual.Conclusiones: Incluso aunque altos niveles de apoyo social percibido pueden proteger contra el sufrimiento psicológico de cara a la preocupación pandémica en la comunidad, parece que este recurso no es tan útil para individuos expuestos a violencia actual.Extender el alcance de los servicios de salud y cuidado se justifica para apoyar las necesidades de este grupo vulnerable en particular.

Trusting Others During a Pandemic: Investigating Potential Changes in Generalized Trust and Its Relationship With Pandemic-Related Experiences and Worry.

Generalized trust, the belief that most other people can be trusted, has positive consequences for health and wellbeing. An increased sense of community is often seen in times of crisis or disaster, but it is unclear whether this is the case in the COVID-19 pandemic. The objectives of the current study were to assess whether generalized trust increased in an early pandemic phase compared to pre-pandemic levels, and whether trust was lower in individuals who felt particularly threatened or burdened in the pandemic. We compared levels of generalized trust in a population-representative Norwegian sample (n = 1,041) with pre-pandemic levels from the European Social Survey (ESS). Age- and gender-adjusted expected scores were compared to observed scores, using weighted data. Secondly, we tested whether indicators of pandemic-related strain, perceived health risks, or pandemic-related worry were associated with a lower level of generalized trust. This cross-sectional study was conducted in an early opening-up phase (May, 2020). The observed levels of generalized trust in an early pandemic phase did not differ significantly from expected levels based on pre-pandemic measures. Higher trust was found among individuals who reported personal experience with the COVID-19 disease (tested positive, admitted to hospital, or lost someone to the disease). Pandemic-related worry and a high perceived health threat were both associated with a lower level of generalized trust. These results indicate that personal experiences with the COVID-19 pandemic could influence trust in others, although this link may be context-dependent. Generalized trust is considered to be an important asset in society, and promote health and well-being. As the pandemic evolves, there is a risk that we may lose, or a chance that we could gain, trust, with potential consequences for our health.

Worry and mental health in the Covid-19 pandemic: vulnerability factors in the general Norwegian population.

BACKGROUND: There is an urgent need for knowledge about the mental health consequences of the ongoing pandemic. The aim of this study was to identify vulnerability factors for psychological distress and reduced life satisfaction in the general population. Furthermore, we aimed to assess the role of COVID-related worries for psychological distress and life satisfaction. METHODS: A presumed representative sample for the Norwegian population (n = 1041, response rate = 39.9%) responded to a web-survey in May 2020. The participants were asked about potential vulnerability factors including increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 (underlying illness, older age), socioeconomic disadvantage (living alone, unemployment, economic problems), and pre-existing mental health vulnerability (recent exposure to violence, previous mental health challenges). Additional measures included COVID-related worry, psychological distress, and life satisfaction. RESULTS: More than one out of four reported current psychological distress over the threshold for clinically significant symptoms. Socioeconomic disadvantages, including living alone and pre-existing economic challenges, and pre-existing mental health vulnerabilities, including recent exposure to violence and previous mental health problems, were associated with a higher level of psychological distress and a lower level of life satisfaction. A higher level of COVID-related worry was significantly associated with a higher level of psychological distress, and a lower level of life satisfaction, even when adjusting for all the vulnerability factors. CONCLUSION: This study identified several vulnerability factors for mental health problems in the pandemic. Individuals recently exposed to violence and individuals with pre-existing mental health problems are at particular risk. Worrying about the consequences of the pandemic contributes negatively to current mental health. However, worry cannot explain the excess distress in vulnerable groups. Future research should focus on how COVID-related strains contribute to mental health problems for vulnerable groups.