Subjective Feelings Of Loneliness Research Articles

Взаимосвязь субъективного чувства одиночества со склонностью к компьютерно-игровой зависимости в юношеском возрасте

The article is devoted to the problem of identifying the relationship between the subjective feeling of loneliness and the tendency to computer and gaming addiction in adolescence. Lonely people tend to be very unhappy, they have few social contacts, and their personal connections with other people are either limited or severed. In connection with the development of computer and gaming technologies, computer and gaming addiction is highly prevalent and tends to increase. Studying the relationship between the subjective feeling of loneliness and the tendency to computer gaming addiction in adolescence is a significant task in understanding the reasons for the formation of computer gaming addiction in adolescence and is associated with the possibility of timely correction of such deviations in the development and behavior of boys and girls. We assume that the subjective feeling of loneliness determines the development of computer and gaming addiction in adolescence. The article presents the results of a correlation analysis between the parameters of feelings of loneliness and computer game addiction: "severity of computer game addiction" and "general loneliness", "positive loneliness", "dependence of loneliness on communication". The results of the study allow us to conclude that an increase in indicators according to the criteria of "general loneliness" and "subjective feeling of loneliness" leads to an increase in the criterion of "severity of computer gaming addiction".

Causes of social exclusion of the elderly: Barriers to inclusive sustainable development

Sustainable development cannot be achieved by leaving behind vulnerable and marginalized groups like older persons who experience multidimensional inequali-ties and social exclusion. This study investigates the root causes, manifestations, and impacts of social exclusion faced by the elderly population in Kazakhstan through an interdisciplinary socio-anthropological lens. Utilizing qualitative and quantitative methods, including surveys, interviews, and empirical analysis, the research examines subjective experiences of loneliness, isolation, low social en-gagement, and barriers to accessing essential services among older adults. It high-lights how factors like health status, income insecurity, ageism, lack of social support systems, and physical/digital accessibility issues intersect to produce and per-petuate social exclusion. In the course of the work carried out, it was revealed that the process of reducing the phenomenon of social exclusion provides an oppor-tunity to increase the effectiveness of social policy, one of the key tasks of which is to ensure a high standard of living for the elderly. Among the results obtained, factors such as subjective feeling of loneliness, diagnosis of social isolation, low level of social activity, and so on, should be noted. Through a conceptual analysis, the main group of risks was considered, which includes a large list of various areas of public activity. Policy proposals include strengthening social protection, facili-tating intergenerational solidarity, inclusive urban planning, digital inclusion and enhancing accessibility to public services tailored to older persons' needs.

STABILITY AND CHANGE IN SOCIAL ISOLATION PROFILES OVER TIME AMONG OLDER ADULTS

Abstract This study examined transitions in social isolation profiles over time and factors associated with them, using longitudinal data from 1,305 older adults in Singapore. While prior studies have investigated social isolation profiles that combine objective measures of social disconnectedness and subjective feelings of loneliness, less is known about the stability and change in these profiles over time. We utilized random-intercept latent transition analysis to identify social isolation profiles and their transition patterns over time. Multivariable regression then examined whether health and sociodemographic characteristics were associated with specific transitions of interest. The empirical analyses yielded three key findings. First, at baseline, about 10% of older adults were “disconnected and lonely,” while 30% were “disconnected but less lonely.” The remaining respondents were “connected and less lonely.” Second, at follow-up, 44% retained their baseline profiles, while 56% transitioned into different profiles. Third, older adults with lower socioeconomic status were more likely to transition from the “connected and less lonely” profiles to the disconnected and less lonely profile. Older adults with declining mental health were more likely to remain in or transition into the “disconnected and lonely” profile. In summary, approximately half of the older Singaporeans were socially disconnected, and one in five of them perceived loneliness occasionally or more often. Socioeconomically disadvantaged older adults were more likely to experience social disconnectedness over time, but this does not necessarily accompany loneliness. Rather, it is declining mental health that leads to both social isolation and loneliness, which calls for tailored interventions.

Social isolation, loneliness, and incident type 2 diabetes mellitus: results from two large prospective cohorts in Europe and East Asia and Mendelian randomization

Social isolation and loneliness pose significant public health challenges globally. The objective of this study is to investigate the association between social isolation, loneliness, and the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). 423,503 UK adults from the UK Biobank (UKB) and 13,800 Chinese adults from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) were analyzed. The exposures of interest were social isolation and loneliness. Social isolation was evaluated based on the number of household members, frequency of social activities, contact with others, and marriage status (CHARLS only). Loneliness was evaluated by the subjective feeling of loneliness and the willingness to confide in others (UKB only). The primary endpoint was incident T2DM. The two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was based on the genome-wide association studies of UKB (n=463,010) and the European Bioinformatics Institute (n=655,666). The UKB cohort study documented 15,072 T2DM cases during a mean follow-up of 13.5 years, and the CHARLS cohort study recorded 1,249 T2DM cases during a mean follow-up of 5.8 years. Social isolation and loneliness showed significant associations with an elevated risk of T2DM in both UKB (social isolation [most vs least]: HR 1.17, 95% CI 1.11-1.23; loneliness [yes vs no]: HR 1.21, 95% CI 1.13-1.30) and CHARLS cohorts (social isolation [yes vs no]: HR 1.22, 95% CI 1.06-1.40; loneliness [yes vs no]: HR 1.21, 95% CI 1.07-1.36). These associations remained significant after accounting for baseline glucose status and genetic susceptibility to T2DM. Two-sample MR analyses determined that feeling lonely (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.02-1.06) and engaging in fewer leisure/social activities (OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.02-1.05) were associated with increased T2DM risk, whereas more contact with friends or family (OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.98-0.99) was associated with reduced T2DM risk. Social isolation and loneliness are each associated with an elevated risk of T2DM, with MR analyses suggesting potential causal links. These associations remain significant after considering genetic susceptibility to T2DM. The findings highlight the importance of promoting initiatives to address social isolation and loneliness as part of T2DM prevention strategies. CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences (No. 2021-I2M-1-008) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 72103187).

Loneliness during the Covid-19 pandemic in Germany: Impact of social factors and polygenic risk scores on interpersonal differences in loneliness and mental health

Objectives The outbreak of Covid-19 negatively affected mental health and increased loneliness. The subjective feeling of loneliness is influenced by genetic and social factors and has a negative impact on mental health. Methods From March 2020 to June 2021 loneliness was investigated in N = 517 individuals using monthly acquired questionnaire data and Latent Growth Curve Analysis. Associations of social factors and polygenic risk scores (PRSs, n = 361) with class membership were investigated. Results Three classes (“average”, 40%; “not lonely”, 38%; “elevated loneliness”, 22%) were identified, that differ significantly regarding loneliness, mental dysfunction, and response to the lockdown phases. Individuals with a high PRS for neuroticism are more likely to belong to the “elevated loneliness” class, living with another person is a protective factor. Conclusion As the “elevated loneliness” class was at the highest risk of mental dysfunction, our findings underscore the importance of identifying those individuals to implement counteractive measures.

Is there anybody out there? Can individual loneliness, need for closure, and religiosity predict the belief in extraterrestrial life and intelligence?

AbstractThinking about the universe also includes thinking about hypothetical extraterrestrial intelligence. Two key questions arise: Why are we thinking about them in the first place? And why are we anthropomorphizing them? One possible explanation may be that the belief in extraterrestrials results from a subjective feeling of loneliness or the need for closure. Results of an online questionnaire (N = 130) did not reveal a confident and consistent correlation between personal feelings of aloneness or need for closure and belief in extraterrestrial life or intelligence. The same was true for the anthropomorphic representation of extraterrestrial intelligence. The belief in extraterrestrial life was negatively linked to frequent religious activity, and to a lesser and more uncertain extent, to the belief in extraterrestrial intelligence. As evidenced by their parameter estimates, participants demonstrated an intuitive grasp of the probabilities inherent in the Drake equation. However, there was significant variability in the solutions provided. When asked to describe hypothetical extraterrestrials, participants mainly assessed them in terms connoted with physical appearance, neutral to humans, and partially influenced by anthropomorphism. Given the severe limitations, we conservatively conclude that individual loneliness is indeed individual and does not break the final frontier, that is, space.

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Mental-Emotional Wellbeing of Primary Healthcare Professionals: A Descriptive Correlational Study

The present study aimed to examine work environment related factors and frontline primary healthcare professionals’ mental-emotional wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic in school communities of Hong Kong. A total of 61 (20%) school health nurses (frontline primary healthcare professionals) participated in a cross-sectional online survey from March to June 2020. Outcomes of mental-emotional health were measured using the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (14-item scale with three subscales related to emotional, social and psychological wellbeing); the Perceived Stress Scale (10-item scale with two subscales related to perceived helplessness and lack of self-efficacy; and the Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory (Brief COPE), a 28-item inventory with two subscales related to adaptive and maladaptive strategies. Almost half (42.6%) of participants experienced mental health problems. Those employed in government subsidized schools had signifi- cantly lower scores in mental health wellbeing than those who worked in private schools. Factors relating to increased mental health problems included lack of emotional support, inadequate training relating to infection prevention and control measures, disengagement and self-blame. A variety of factors influencing school health nurses’social, emotional and psychological wellbeing in their work environment during the COVID-19 pandemic were also reported. The mental-emotional wellbeing of school nurses may relate to their subjective feeling of loneliness as participants were the sole frontline primary healthcare professional working in the school community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Study findings provide relevant evidence for management teams to build a culture of psychological and social support into workplace policies and procedures. Continuous staff development and adequate social support are important to promote the mental-emotional wellbeing of primary healthcare professionals in school communities as they play a significant role in safeguarding resources during pandemics.

Дослідження взаємозв’язку особливостей психоемоційного здоров’я з даними життєдіяльності у молоді.

The article analyzes the problem of the uniqueness of psycho-emotional health of the individual during adoles-cence. The leading components of this phenomenon are outlined. The expediency of considering the construct "psycho-emotional health" as an independent subject of research is substantiated. Psycho-emotional health is understood by us as an integrative property of the individual that has lifelong (unparalleled) value due to the determinism of the search for meaning of life. It characterizes the personality as a whole, its psychological resourcefulness, determining the ability to develop own subjectivity in today's changing world. It has different rates of formation, quality scales, due to the indi-vidual's ability to self-development at different ages. This is especially evident in adolescence, when it is believed that all scientifically established dimensions of the emotional sphere of the human psyche become clear (self-creation of emotions; sign, modality, intensity of emotional experiences; available vector of emotional personal readiness; dimen-sion of emotional self-knowledge; ability to spiritual experiences). Construction of the construct "psycho-emotional health" creates an opportunity to fully comprehend it as a psychological phenomenon and personal property, which integrates all the established components of the emotional sphere - value-motivational, informative-reflexive. In addi-tion, we are talking about psycho-emotional health as a complex and, at the same time, holistic personal education that accumulates regulatory-adaptive and active potential. Psychological mechanisms of positive dynamics of psycho-emotional health of an individual are identification, emotional self-regulation, reflection, empathy, imitation, mental infection. The results of analytical work aimed at clarifying the component composition (axiological, cognitive-affective, conative-instrumental, social-determinative) and scales of levels of psycho-emotional health of the individual in adulthood (subjective - predictive-creative; personal - adaptive-program; social - similar-adaptive; individual – psy-cho-emotional ill health). The originality of the author's questionnaire and some parallel methods aimed at establishing links between students' psycho-emotional health and vitality, indicators of stress resistance, depression, and subjective feelings of loneliness are highlighted. The results of factor analysis, which determine the dynamics of the processes of self-knowledge, self-preservation, self-recovery and strengthening the psycho-emotional health of students, in particu-lar, in higher education are identified.

System avoidance and social isolation: Mechanisms connecting police contact and deleterious health outcomes

A growing body of literature suggests even routine or low-level contact with the criminal justice system impacts health outcomes. In this paper, I examine two mechanisms by which police contact contributes to deleterious health outcomes: system avoidance and social isolation. I use data from 12,016 respondents from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, a longitudinal and nationally representative sample. Findings suggest system avoidance may be an important mechanism by which police stops shape health outcomes. Whether social isolation serves as a mechanism varies based on how it is measured. Results suggest police stops are associated with subjective feelings of loneliness, which in turn explained some of the association between police stops and health outcomes. Notably, women were more likely to exhibit system avoidance and poor health following police contact compared to men.

Retrospective feelings of loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic among residents of long-term care facilities

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has had an incisive effect on residents living in long-term care facilities (LTCFs). Local governments have introduced restrictive measures because of the danger posed by this virus. One increasing negative effect of these implementations among residents living in LTCFs is their subjective feelings of loneliness. This study assumed that these measures weighed heavily particularly on residents living in LTCFs, as this group of older people could not decide for themselves whether or how they should be implemented. Thus, this study investigated the retrospectively reported subjective loneliness of residents living in LTCFs. On a large-scale Swiss survey (N = 828; mean age: 87.78, 75% female), residents of 22 LTCFs filled out a questionnaire on their subjective feelings of loneliness during the pandemic. The retrospective loneliness scores of the residents living in LTCFs were found to exceed those reported in other studies focusing on community-dwelling older people. Multivariate regression analyses showed that females, individuals with lower values of joy in life and life satisfaction, and individuals who were not satisfied with the manner in which their care home coped with the COVID-19 measures significantly felt lonelier. Therefore, the subjective feelings of loneliness of residents in LTCFs should be monitored very carefully. As the measures have still not been completely lifted, residents of LTCFs are assumed to still experience social isolation and be at high risk of encountering prolonged feelings of loneliness, which can be detrimental to their mental health and well-being.

Cognitive Models of Loneliness in Women in Early and Middle Adulthood

The problem of loneliness is caused by a disunity and alienation of modern society, dissatisfaction with the basic social needs for acceptance and support. The fact that the subjective feeling of loneliness does not coincide with the real degree of social isolation determines the need to study the cognitive aspects. The aim of this study is to show the role of cognitive structures in loneliness in women. A survey of 144 women aged 26-55 years was conducted. Using the UCLA Loneliness Scale and the Differential Loneliness Experience Questionnaire, loneliness was measured as a global experience, positive and negative attitudes towards it. Cognitive models were studied using the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale, Young Schema Questionnaire, the author’s questionnaire that reveals cultural myths and gender stereotypes about loneliness. A comparative analysis of the groups showed no differences in the perception of loneliness among women with different family situations; it also does not depend on having children and their number. Age was found to be a significant determinant of perceptions of loneliness and family circumstances. Cognitive models influence women’s loneliness to a greater extent than family situation. The publication describes correlations between perceived loneliness and individual dysfunctional attitudes, and builds regression models of predictors of loneliness in different age groups. The study shows the prevalence of cultural stereotypes about the need for marriage and motherhood, and a special female vulnerability in relationships. The construct “tolerance to loneliness” is proposed and described, which reveals the positive potential of this experience for self-knowledge and self-development.

Do Loneliness and Social Isolation Predict Mortality Because of Hazardous Drinking?

Introduction: Subjective feelings of loneliness and objective social isolation have been consistently connected with ill-health and mortality, though little work has empirically examined the mechanisms explaining the adverse effects. This study examines whether alcohol consumption explains the connection of loneliness and social isolation on mortality in different age and gender groups. Methods: The sample comprised a representative 1994 Finnish sample (n = 8,650) matched with 22-year follow-up mortality data. A multigroup path analysis with discrete survival time analyses was conducted. Results: There were unique differences in the associations between loneliness, social isolation, alcohol consumption, and mortality based on age and gender groups. Loneliness and particularly social isolation predicted mortality partly through subjective intoxication for women under 40 and men 40–65. Discussion: Loneliness and social isolation are associated with mortality, partly through subjective intoxication. Interventions targeted at reducing loneliness and social isolation may help address underlying causes of excess alcohol consumption and mortality.

Impact of psychosocial stressors on emotional and behavioral problems in Chinese adolescents during the COVID-19 period: the explanatory value of loneliness.

BackgroundChinese adolescents experienced a variety of stressors during the COVID-19 home confinement period. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of emotional and behavioral problems (EBPs) among adolescents during the COVID-19 period. The study also examined the relationships between psychosocial stressors and adolescents’ EBPs, and explored the potential explanatory value of loneliness for any associations observed.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study which included 6,587 adolescents in Taizhou, China between April 16 and May 14, 2020. Adolescents’ EBPs were assessed by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), while subjective feelings of loneliness were assessed using one item from the Children’s Depression Inventory. We applied structural equation modelling to assess direct and indirect associations (explained by loneliness) between psychosocial stressors (study problems, parent-child relationship, and family or friends with COVID-19) and the total difficulties and prosocial scores.ResultsThe prevalence of EBPs in the sample was 31.6% for total difficulties and 37.5% for prosocial problems. After adjustment for a range of covariates, the presence of study problems, poor parent-child relationship and family or friends with COVID-19 were significantly associated with a higher SDQ total difficulties score (β=6.20, 21.46, 5.21; P<0.01) and a lower prosocial score (β=−0.79, −4.35, −1.65; P<0.01). There was an explanatory effect of loneliness on these associations, which explained 27–37% of the total effect on the total difficulties score and 11–37% on the prosocial score.ConclusionsThe presence of psychosocial stressors during the home confinement period was related to higher EBPs in adolescents, and the relationship was partially explained by loneliness. Targeted psychosocial interventions towards loneliness and COVID-19 related stressors may improve adolescents’ psychological health.

ЖACӨCПІРІМДЕРДІҢ ЖАЛҒЫЗДЫҚСЕЗІМІН ЗЕРТТЕУ СУИЦИДТІҢ АЛДЫН АЛУ ШАРАЛАРЫНЫҢ БІРІ

Suicidal behavior among adolescents is now becoming a global problem. Child suicide is a tragedy. Each such situation shows that the fear of life overcomes the fear of death. There are many reasons for suicide among adolescents, and one of the reasons that teachers, psychologists, parents do not pay special attention to is the adolescent's feeling of loneliness. The authors of the article point out that one of the reasons for suicide among adolescents may be loneliness. At this age, they really need support, understanding of others (especially peers). The aim of the study is to prove that the cause of suicide among adolescents may be loneliness, the importance of studying and preventing the feeling of loneliness in adolescents. In an empirical study of the peculiarities of loneliness in adolescence, the authors used the method "Diagnostics of the level of subjective feeling of loneliness" by D. Russell and M. Ferguson, and also conducted a thorough analysis of the research results. Along with this survey, the authors provide a number of questions to identify the causes of loneliness among students, to help those who feel lonely. As a result of such studies, the authors found that most adolescents experience loneliness to some extent and that this feeling has a certain positive or negative impact on each of them. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the fact that school psychologists, teachers and class teachers are offered an effective methodology and questionnaires for the study and prevention of feelings of loneliness in adolescents. In adolescence, the state of loneliness is very pronounced. This condition may be associated with an increase in the social need inherent in this age. Ambiguity, spiritual isolation, melancholy, the need for communication, the closeness of people-all this leads to a painful state and stress. And untimely prevention of this problem can lead to serious, irreparable consequences.

Owner of a lonely mind? Social cognitive capacity is associated with objective, but not perceived social isolation in healthy individuals

IntroductionBoth objective social isolation (OSI) and subjective feelings of loneliness (perceived social isolation; PSI) are linked to cognitive problems in the general community. However, examination of the relationship between social cognitive capacity and social functioning in adults has mostly been limited to clinical samples. Thus, the aim of the current study is to examine the pathways linking social cognitive capacity, OSI and PSI in young and middle-aged adults. MethodsTwo-hundred fifty-two healthy individuals aged 18–50 completed a battery of social cognitive tasks, as well as self-report questionnaires measuring OSI and PSI. ResultsWorse lower-level processing of social cues predicted higher level of OSI, but not PSI. More pronounced hostile attribution bias predicted higher levels of both OSI and PSI. ConclusionResults of the current study suggest that objective social cognitive capacity may predict objective but not perceived levels of social functioning. At the same time, social cognitive biases may affect both objective and perceived social isolation in healthy individuals.

Psychological features of the relationship of personality resilience and subjective feelings of loneliness

The article focuses on identifying and describing some aspects of the psychological characteristics of the relationship between personality resilience and the subjective feeling of loneliness in adolescence. Resilience is understood as a person’s ability to adapt and be effective, to function successfully despite the influence of any external factors, to survive and develop. Resilience is presented as the ability to recover from setbacks, to rely on the gained life experience for your personal growth and self-realization. An empirical study has shown that there is a strong inverse statistically significant relationship between the phenomenon of vitality and the subjective feeling of loneliness in adolescents. The experimental (correctional and developmental) work carried out was effective, as it influenced the development of the participants’ resilience. The emphasis in correctional and developmental work was placed on the discovery and activation of the development of resources for self-care, a positive self-concept, positive self-attitude, forward thinking, and the ability for long-term planning, the ability to cope, reflexive and communication skills and abilities, the ability to establish and develop connections with other people. The experimental work can be considered quite effective, since, according to the research participants, they began to cope with the negative aspects of loneliness, difficult life situations, became more positive and stable better.

Оценка уровня интернет-аддикции у студенческой молодежи: диагностический инструментарий

We consider the issue of Internet-dependent behavior of students within the educational environment, characterize the psychological and pedagogical features of student youth and define the specifics of Internet addiction among students. We present the results of a diagnostic study of Internet addiction among students, conducted at the Derzhavin Tambov State University. Research methods: K. Young’s Internet Addiction Test; Generalized Problematic Internet Use Scale-3 (GPIUS-3) by A.A. Gerasimova and A. B. Kholmogorova; methods of diagnosing the level of subjective feelings of loneliness by D. Russell and M. Ferguson; methods of multifactorial personality research by R. Cattell, questionnaire by H. Eysenck “Self-Assessment of the Mental State of the Individual”. The personal characteristics of students with different degrees of Internet addicted behavior are determined. The results obtained in the course of empirical research may be used to develop a program of pedagogical prevention of Internet addicted behavior in students within the educational process at the university. The results of the study will allow us to develop and apply preventive measures of various directions: primary, secondary, or tertiary, including help in the preparation of complexes of preventive measures individually for each addict, taking into account his individual characteristics.

Динамика психического состояния студентов в процессе трансформации шахматной системы подготовки

the urgency of the problem is due to the need to find a model for the qualitative growth of training of specialists, to create a socio-cultural environment at the university that allows not only to form professional competencies, but also to influence the mental state of students, organizing comfortable activities with a high level of motivation for learning. In this aspect, the transformation of the chess system of training students can have a positive effect not only on the development of intellectual properties and personality traits, but also on the mental state of students. The aim of the research was to study the changes in the mental state of students in the process of chess training on the basis of the developed author’s concept of the international grandmaster I.V. Mikhailova. The study involved 3–4 year students of the Russian State Social University, studying the discipline “Elective courses in physical culture and sports” with a total number of 168 people. Students learned using a variety of technologies and resources, including Chess Planet, chess. com and chessKing.com platforms. To study the mental states of students, standard tests were used: SAN (Feelings, Activity, Mood), a test for loneliness by the method of subjective feeling of loneliness by D. Russell and M. Ferguson and a test by the method of Ch.D. Spielberger in Y.L. Khanin’s adaptation to identify personal and situational anxiety. The results showed that the teachers, based on the author’s concept developed by I. V. Mikhailova, generally note an increase in the comfort of the mental state, a decrease in anxiety, and an improvement in the psychoemotional state.

Deterioration of mental health despite successful control of the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea.

South Korea was able to successfully control the spread of COVID-19 without nationwide lockdowns or drastic social distancing efforts, but pandemic-related psychological outcome of the general population remains unknown. Between March and June 2020, 400 South Korean residents participated in an online study of depression, anxiety, stress, psychosis-risk and loneliness, as well as indices of social network, physical health and demographics. Clinical levels of depression, anxiety or stress were reported by 45% of the respondents, and psychosis-risk was present in 12.8%; a drastic increase above the base rate reported by previous studies conducted in South Korea prior to the pandemic. Subjective feelings of loneliness, but not the size of the social network accounted for poor mental health. Women were especially at increased risk for mental health problems. Thus, despite effective mitigation of the pandemic, there was a striking deterioration of mental health. As the psychological burden of the continuing pandemic accrues, the probability of an impending mental health crisis is increasing, especially in countries with greater infection and death rates than South Korea. Comprehensive efforts to address the psychological aftermath of the pandemic are urgently needed.

Alarming levels of psychiatric symptoms and the role of loneliness during the COVID-19 epidemic: A case study of Hong Kong

Public health strategies to curb the spread of the coronavirus involve sheltering at home and social distancing are effective in reducing the transmission rate, but the unintended consequences of prolonged social isolation on mental health have not been investigated. We focused on Hong Kong for its very rapid and comprehensive response to the pandemic and strictly enacted social distancing protocols. Thus, Hong Kong is a model case for the population-wide practice of effective social distancing and provides an opportunity to examine the impact of loneliness on mental health during the COVID-19. We conducted an anonymous online survey of 432 residents in Hong Kong to examine psychological distress in the community. The results indicate a dire situation with respect to mental health. An astonishing 65.6% (95% C.I. = [60.6%, 70.4%]) of the respondents reported clinical levels of depression, anxiety, and/or stress. Moreover, 22.5% (95% C.I. = [18.2%, 27.2%]) of the respondents were showing signs of psychosis risk. Subjective feelings of loneliness, but not social network size, were associated with increased psychiatric symptoms. To mitigate the potential epidemic of mental illness in the near future, there is an urgent need to prepare clinicians, caregivers and stakeholders to focus on loneliness.