Loneliness in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic: Cross-sectional results from the COVID-19 Psychological Wellbeing Study

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 15; no. 9; p. e0239698
• Main Authors: Groarke, Jenny M, Berry, Emma, Graham-Wisener, Lisa, McKenna-Plumley, Phoebe E, McGlinchey, Emily, Armour, Cherie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 24-09-2020; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Adults; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anxiety - epidemiology; Anxiety disorders; Betacoronavirus; Biology and Life Sciences; Coronavirus Infections - psychology; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Cross-Sectional Studies; Emotions; Female; Health aspects; Health risks; Humans; Loneliness; Male; Medicine and Health Sciences; Mental health; Middle Aged; Pandemics; Pneumonia, Viral - psychology; Prevalence; Protective Factors; Psychological aspects; Psychological factors; Public health; Regression analysis; Risk analysis; Risk Factors; SARS-CoV-2; Sleep; Social aspects; Social interactions; Social networks; Social Sciences; Social Support; Socioeconomic factors; United Kingdom; Well being; Young Adult; United Kingdom; United Kingdom > UK; United States > US
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0239698

Loneliness is a significant public health issue. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in lockdown measures limiting social contact. The UK public are worried about the impact of these measures on mental health outcomes. Understanding the prevalence and predictors of loneliness at this time is a priority issue for research.
The study employed a cross-sectional online survey design. Baseline data collected between March 23rd and April 24th 2020 from UK adults in the COVID-19 Psychological Wellbeing Study were analysed (N = 1964, 18-87 years, M = 37.11, SD = 12.86, 70% female). Logistic regression analysis examined the influence of sociodemographic, social, health and COVID-19 specific factors on loneliness.
The prevalence of loneliness was 27% (530/1964). Risk factors for loneliness were younger age group (OR: 4.67-5.31), being separated or divorced (OR: 2.29), scores meeting clinical criteria for depression (OR: 1.74), greater emotion regulation difficulties (OR: 1.04), and poor quality sleep due to the COVID-19 crisis (OR: 1.30). Higher levels of social support (OR: 0.92), being married/co-habiting (OR: 0.35) and living with a greater number of adults (OR: 0.87) were protective factors.
Rates of loneliness during the initial phase of lockdown were high. Risk factors were not specific to the COVID-19 crisis. Findings suggest that supportive interventions to reduce loneliness should prioritise younger people and those with mental health symptoms. Improving emotion regulation and sleep quality, and increasing social support may be optimal initial targets to reduce the impact of COVID-19 regulations on mental health outcomes.