“Loneliness is killing me?!”: the subjective emotional experience of loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic: results of a cross-sectional study in patients with a psychiatric disorder
Year: 2024
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: PURPOSE: During the COVID-19 pandemic, an increase in loneliness as well as mental health issues was detected. However, research on the association between loneliness and mental disorders is sparse. The aim of this study was to examine loneliness and associated social and emotional factors in patients with a psychiatric disorder and to investigate potential predictors of loneliness. METHODS: Participants were N = 230 patients currently receiving psychiatric treatment at the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Leipzig, Germany. A cross-sectional survey included questionnaires on loneliness, life satisfaction, need to belong, interpersonal trust, stress, and resilience. RESULTS: Most participants (n = 91, 39.6%) suffered from depression, followed by anxiety disorder (n = 43, 18.7%). Significantly higher loneliness levels compared to norm samples were detected in all three loneliness questionnaires (all p <.05), and overall n = 128 (57.7%) reported to feel lonely. In addition, participants reported lower life satisfaction, lower interpersonal trust, and lower resilience than the general population (all p <.05). No significant differences in loneliness levels between different psychiatric diagnoses were revealed. It was found that lower satisfaction with life, lower interpersonal trust and lower resilience were significantly associated with higher loneliness (all p <.05). CONCLUSION: This study underlines the importance to continue research on loneliness in people with mental disorders after the COVID-19 pandemic since the majority of patients reported to feel lonely. Further, tailored therapy-accompanying interventions to prevent loneliness in patients with a psychiatric disorder should be designed and evaluated to meet patients' diverse needs e.g., through online programs. TRIAL REGISTRATION: German Clinical Trial Registration: DRKS00023741 (registered on April 6, 2021).
Authors: Mona Schenk, Sabrina Baldofski, Fabian Hall, Tony Urbansky, Maria Strauß, Elisabeth Kohls, Christine Rummel-Kluge
Institutions: Leipzig University, University Hospital Leipzig
Language: English
Topic: COVID-19 and Mental Health
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,190
Funder: Universität Leipzig
OpenAlex ID: W4405703396