Measuring the Effects of Social Isolation and Dissatisfaction on Depressive Symptoms during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Moderating Role of Sleep and Physical Activity.

Ivan Vargas,Alexandria Muench,Michael L Perlis,Erin Kaye Howie

doi:10.3390/brainsci11111449

Ivan Vargas, Alexandria Muench + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11111449

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Abstract

Social distancing was universally implemented to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Long-term social distancing can lead to increased feelings of social isolation or dissatisfaction with one’s daily interpersonal interactions, which can subsequently result in reduced psychological health (e.g., greater depression). The present study quantified this association, and the extent to which it was moderated by measures of sleep and physical activity, by surveying 3658 adults (mean age = 46.0 years) from across the United States. Participants answered questions related to their social experiences, sleep, physical activity, and depressive symptoms during the early stages of the pandemic (March–June 2020). Results showed that social isolation and social dissatisfaction were associated with greater depressive symptoms. As predicted, self-reported sleep quality and physical activity moderated these associations, such that lower sleep quality and physical activity exacerbated their effect on depressive symptoms.

Highlights

Social isolation ratings ranged from 0–100, with a mean rating of 29.6 (SD = 29.0), whereas social satisfaction ratings ranged from 1–7, with a mean rating of 5.4 (SD = 1.4)
total wake time (TWT), sleep quality (SQ), and physical activity (PA) were all significantly related to depressive symptoms
Individuals morewith likely quality or quantity of their social interactions that day. These results are consistent with depressive symptoms in the evening if they are feeling socially isolated or dis research indicating that a lack of social connectedness or belongingness is a risk factor for with depression the quality of the their social interactions that day

Summary

Introduction

Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. The COVID-19 pandemic was declared a national emergency in the United States on 13 March 2020, with most states issuing stay-at-home orders during the subsequent weeks. The present pandemic has presented a unique situation in which people were almost universally engaging in the public health intervention known as social distancing

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