Social isolation, social support, and psychological distress among the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study from central India.
Indian J Public Health
; 66(4): 451-457, 2022.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2201810
ABSTRACT
Background:
In the present COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing measures have been advised to protect elderly from infection which might have led to poor mental health state.Objective:
A cross-sectional study was carried out to assess the magnitude of social isolation, social support, and psychological distress among the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic in Central India.Methods:
The estimated sample size was 1535. The sample was equally distributed among rural, semiurban, and urban strata of districts. Social isolation was measured using Lubben's Social Network Scale-Revised, and psychological distress was assessed using Kessler K10 Psychological Distress Scale. Other parameters such as a history of COVID-19 illness and COVID-19 vaccination were assessed.Results:
The prevalence of social isolation was higher at 23.6% during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to before the pandemic period (15.0%). The majority perceived a high level of social support during the pandemic (55.3%) and 39.9% received moderate support. Overall, 18.4% of the respondents had psychological distress. Out of them, 56.2% had mild distress, 20.1% had moderate distress, and 23.7% had severe distress. Significant predictors of psychological distress were female gender, lower socioeconomic status, history of COVID-19 disease among the participants, social isolation, and lack of social support.Conclusion:
Social isolation and lack of social support were significant predictors of psychological distress among the elderly during the pandemic.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Psychological Distress
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Randomized controlled trials
Topics:
Vaccines
Limits:
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
English
Journal:
Indian J Public Health
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Ijph.ijph_482_22
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