The burden of loneliness: Implications of the social determinants of health during COVID-19

• Published in: Psychiatry research 2021-02, Vol.296, p.113648, Article 113648
• Main Authors: McQuaid, Robyn J., Cox, Sylvia M.L., Ogunlana, Ayotola, Jaworska, Natalia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Anxiety; Anxiety Disorders - diagnosis; Anxiety Disorders - psychology; Canada; Cost of Illness; COVID-19 - psychology; Depression; Depressive Disorder - diagnosis; Depressive Disorder - psychology; Female; Gender; Humans; Income; Living arrangements; Loneliness - psychology; Male; Middle Aged; Risk Factors; Sex Factors; Social Determinants of Health; Socioeconomic Factors; Young Adult; Young adults
• ISSN: 0165-1781; 1872-7123; 1872-7123
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113648

•Loneliness is higher among individuals with lower household incomes.•Loneliness, depression and anxiety symptoms were highest among young females.•Loneliness was linked to depression and anxiety scores in a dose-related fashion.•The loneliness-depression relationship was moderated by gender. This study sought to examine if mental health issues, namely depression and anxiety symptoms, and loneliness were experienced differently according to various demographic groups during the COVID-19 pandemic (i.e., a societal stressor). An online survey, comprising demographic questions and questionnaires on depression, anxiety and loneliness symptoms, was distributed in Canada during the height of social distancing restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Respondents (N=661) from lower income households experienced greater anxiety, depression and loneliness. Specifically, loneliness was greater in those with an annual income 65yr). Moreover, loneliness scores increased with increasing depression and anxiety symptom severity category. The relationship between loneliness and depression symptoms was moderated by gender, such that females experienced higher depressive symptoms when encountering greater loneliness. These data identify younger females, individuals with lower income, and those living alone as experiencing greater loneliness and mental health challenges during the height of the pandemic in Canada. We highlight the strong relationship between loneliness, depression and anxiety, and emphasize increased vulnerability among certain cohorts.