Psychological Effects of Social Isolation During the COVID-19 Pandemic 2020

ABSTRACT

The SARS-CoV2 pandemic meant considerable restrictions in the social life of many people. Older people belong to the high-risk group for a severe to fatal course of the SARS-CoV2 disease, which is why these groups received special protection. This protection included drastic restrictions on their personal and social contacts, including the suspension of psychosocial therapies. This study examines the cognitive and emotional effects of social isolation on older people. A group of 49 participants who lived in nursing homes was tested before and after social isolation in 2020. The results of the present study provide empirical evidence for the negative effects of social isolation of older people in nursing homes regarding cognitive performance, anxiety, depressive symptoms, and quality of life.