scholarly journals Potential impact of physical distancing on physical and mental health: a rapid narrative umbrella review of meta-analyses on the link between social connection and health

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. e042335
Author(s):  
Nexhmedin Morina ◽  
Ahlke Kip ◽  
Thole Hilko Hoppen ◽  
Stefan Priebe ◽  
Thomas Meyer
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Vaccine Uptake ◽  
Living Alone ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Social Connection ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Meta Analyses

BackgroundThe imperative for physical distancing (mostly referred to as social distancing) during COVID-19 pandemic may deteriorate physical and mental health. We aimed at summarising the strength of evidence in the published literature on the association of physical and mental health with social connection via social isolation, living alone and loneliness.MethodsWe conducted a systematic search in April 2020 to identify meta-analyses using the Medline, PsycINFO and Web of Science databases. The search strategy included terms of social isolation, loneliness, living alone and meta-analysis. Eligible meta-analyses needed to report any sort of association between an indicator of social connection and any physical or mental health outcome. The findings were summarised in a narrative synthesis.ResultsTwenty-five meta-analyses met our criteria, of which 10 focused on physical health and 15 on mental health outcomes. The results suggest that lack of social connection is associated with chronic physical symptoms, frailty, coronary heart disease, malnutrition, hospital readmission, reduced vaccine uptake, early mortality, depression, social anxiety, psychosis, cognitive impairment in later life and suicidal ideation.ConclusionsThe existing evidence clearly indicates that social connection is associated with a range of poor physical and mental health outcomes. A potential negative impact on these outcomes needs to be considered in future decisions on physical distancing measures.

scholarly journals A potential impact of physical distancing on physical and mental health. A rapid narrative umbrella review of meta-analyses on the link between social isolation and health

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nexhmedin Morina ◽  
Ahlke Kip ◽  
Thole H. Hoppen ◽  
Stefan Priebe ◽  
Thomas Meyer
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Vaccine Uptake ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
List Type ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Umbrella Review ◽  
Meta Analyses

AbstractBackgroundThe imperative for physical distancing during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may deteriorate physical and mental health. We aimed at summarizing the strength of evidence in the published literature on the association of social isolation and loneliness with physical and mental health.MethodsWe conducted a systematic search in April 2020 to identify meta-analyses using the Medline, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases. The search strategy included terms of social isolation, loneliness, living alone, and meta-analysis. Eligible meta-analyses needed to report any sort of association between an indicator of social isolation and any physical or mental health outcome. The findings were summarized in a narrative synthesis.ResultsTwenty-five meta-analyses met our criteria, of which 10 focused on physical health and 15 on mental health outcomes. A total of more than 3 million individuals had participated in the 692 primary studies. The results suggest that social isolation is associated with chronic physical symptoms, frailty, coronary heart disease, malnutrition, hospital readmission, reduced vaccine uptake, early mortality, depression, social anxiety, psychosis, cognitive impairment in later life, and suicidal ideation.ConclusionsThe existing evidence clearly indicates that social isolation is associated with a range of poor physical and mental health outcomes. A potential negative impact on these outcomes needs to be considered in future decisions on physical distancing measures.Strengths and limitations of this studyThis rapid umbrella review focuses on a timely and societally relevant issue.The systematic literature search was conducted in three major databases from inception up to April 2020 warranting an extensive and up-to-date overview on relevant meta-analyses in the field.Quality of included meta-analyses was rated with a standardized measure.Different indicators of social isolation were included.The utilized method did not allow for a quantitative comparison of associations with health outcomes.

Cognitive, physical, and mental health outcomes between long-term cannabis and tobacco users

2018 ◽  
Vol 79 ◽  
pp. 178-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.E. Lovell ◽  
R. Bruno ◽  
J. Johnston ◽  
A. Matthews ◽  
I. McGregor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Physical And Mental Health

Parenting skills and promotion of mental health over the lifespan

2018 ◽  
pp. 371-382
Author(s):  
Stephen Scott
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Early Death ◽  
Antisocial Behaviour ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Health Practitioner ◽  
Childhood And Adolescence ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Parenting Skills ◽  
High Quality

Improving parenting skills can improve a range of mental health outcomes in infancy, childhood, and adolescence, and can improve both physical and mental health in adulthood. High-quality, evidence-based parenting programmes are especially effective for reducing children’s antisocial behaviour and promoting attachment security. This form of early intervention confers lasting benefits well into adulthood, on intelligence and academic functioning, as well as a range of mental health outcomes, such as antisocial personality disorder, crime, drug addiction, and early death. The skill of the mental health practitioner has a substantial effect on outcomes, as well as choosing a high-quality parenting programmeme, it is important to train the practitioner well and subsequently to ensure there is ongoing supervision. To widen access, more online programmes need to be developed.

scholarly journals Social Connection in Times of Physical Distancing

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 36-36
Author(s):  
Jeongeun Lee
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Digital Media ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Social Connection ◽  
Current Effort ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Key Stakeholders

Abstract COVID-19 has been especially devastating to older adults. To prevent the spread of the virus, physical distancing has become the norm. As a result, there are fewer opportunities available for face-to-face interaction and social activities, which may be particularly harmful to older adults, given their existing loneliness levels. Thus, this symposium brings together a collection of papers that exemplify the interplay of social connection, activities, and mental health outcomes among older adults facing loneliness. The first paper will discuss how activity diversity is linked to higher loneliness and depressive symptoms among heterosexual and LGBTQ older adults. The second paper will present findings on the changes in social connectedness due to physical distancing and their associated impact on the mental health outcomes among older adults. The third paper will present qualitative findings on the effect of physical distancing on older adults' social connectedness using a mixed-method study. The final paper discusses the challenges faced by older adults in their use of digital media for social connection in the present pandemic and highlights some of the population's untapped strengths, which can be leveraged to help them live prosperous online lives. All papers will address practical tips and recommendations for actions, which key stakeholders can take to support older adults during the pandemic. The discussant, Dr. Kahana, will integrate the four papers and highlight the potential and limits of the current effort to address these issues and consider future inquiry routes.

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