Loneliness During Strict and Lifted Social Distancing Protocols Against the COVID-19 Pandemic

NCT04444115 | Unknown DMC

• 1 other identifier: 802810-1
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 10,084
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

Description The aim of the present study is to investigate (a) changes in the levels of loneliness in the general adult population from a period of strict distancing protocols designed to impede transmission of the corona virus (T1) to a later period of lifted distancing protocols period (T2), (b) the risk and resilience factors for persistence in loneliness across these periods and (c) the associations between loneliness at T1 and changes in loneliness from T1 to T2 and changes in psychopathology symptoms from T1 to T2. An investigation of loneliness persistence in addition to its association with risk factors and the persistence of psychopathology provides a knowledge basis for employing interventions that protect the general public against increased distress and dysfunction during and after society's handling of pandemics.

Conditions

Loneliness During COVID-19

Keywords

COVID-19, social distancing, loneliness, worry, rumination, depression, anxiety

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• UCLA Loneliness Scale-8 (ULS-8)

  The UCLA Loneliness Scale-8 (ULS-8; Hays \& DiMatteo, 1987) measures the frequency and intensity of aspects of the lonely experience, using a 1 (never), 2 (rarely), 3 (sometimes) and 4 (often) scale. A composite score is computed by summing the items after reverse coding when appropriate, with composites ranging from 8 to 32. A score greater than half the maximum score (16) has been used to indicate caseness (Shevlin, Murphy, Mallett, Stringer, \& Murphy, 2013). This implies that respondents at least sometimes experience at least one of the loneliness aspects described in the 8 items. The ULS-8 has demonstrated good psychometric properties (Hays \& DiMatteo, 1987; Hartshorne, 1993).

  From 22nd of June to 13th of July

• Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)

  The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9; Kroenke, Spitzer, \& Williams, 2001) consists of nine items covering the DSM-IV criteria for major depression scored on a four-point 0 (not at all) to 3 (almost every day) scale, with total scores ranging from 0 to 27. The PHQ-9 has revealed good psychometric properties, as demonstrated by Kroenke, Spitzer, and Williams (2001).

  From 22nd of June to 13th of July

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7)

  The Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7; Kroenke, Spitzer, Williams, Monahan \& Löwe, 2007) consists of seven items covering the DSM-IV criteria for GAD scored on a four-point 0 (not at all) to 3 (almost every day) scale, with total scores ranging from 0 to 21. The GAD-7 has revealed construct validity and reliability (Kroenke et al., 2007; Löwe et al., 2008).

  From 22nd of June to 13th of July

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Eligible participants are all individuals of 18 years and above, who are living in Norway and thus experience identical distancing protocols, and who provide informed consent to participate in the study.

You may qualify if:

• all adults residing in Norway

You may not qualify if:

• none

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Modum Bad: lead
• University of Oslo: collaborator

Related Publications (1)

• Hoffart A, Johnson SU, Ebrahimi OV. Loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic: change and predictors of change from strict to discontinued social distancing protocols. Anxiety Stress Coping. 2022 Jan;35(1):44-57. doi: 10.1080/10615806.2021.1958790. Epub 2021 Jul 27.

  PMID: 34314285 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

COVID-19; Rumination Syndrome; Depression; Anxiety Disorders

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Pneumonia, Viral; Pneumonia; Respiratory Tract Infections; Infections; Virus Diseases; Coronavirus Infections; Coronaviridae Infections; Nidovirales Infections; RNA Virus Infections; Lung Diseases; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Digestive System Diseases; Feeding and Eating Disorders; Mental Disorders; Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior

Study Officials

• Omid Ebrahimi, Cand Psychol

  University of Oslo and Modum Bad

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Asle Hoffart, PhD

  Modum Bad and University of Oslo

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Sverre Urnes Johnson, PhD

  University of Oslo and Modum Bad

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Asle Hoffart, PhD

CONTACT

+4790594733; asle.hoffart@modum-bad.no

Sverre Urnes Johnson, PhD

CONTACT

+4741633313; Sverre.Johnson@modum-bad.no

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: ECOLOGIC OR COMMUNITY
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Prof

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 20, 2020
• First Posted: June 23, 2020
• Study Start: June 22, 2020
• Primary Completion: July 13, 2020
• Study Completion: July 13, 2020
• Last Updated: June 23, 2020

Record last verified: 2020-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share