A recent study conducted by the University of Exeter and King’s College London linked loneliness to the aggravated symptoms of depression and anxiety in older adults. You can read the full article here:
COVID lockdown loneliness linked to more depressive symptoms in older adults
The data was collected from more than 3,000 individuals aged 50 and over, that were participants of the PROTECT online survey, which has the purpose of gaining knowledge about the aspects that seem to have a role in healthy ageing.
By analysing the data, researchers found a few factors that were linked to the increase in symptoms of depression and anxiety during the pandemic:
- Loneliness
- Reduction of physical activity
- Being retired
- Being female
Dr Byron Creese, of the University of Exeter Medical School, who led the study, said: “Even before the pandemic, loneliness and physical activity levels were a huge issue in society, particularly among older people (…). It’s now crucial that we build on this data to find new ways to mitigate risk of worsening mental health during the pandemic.”
Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, lonely participants reported feeling two symptoms of depression over several days in the space of two weeks. While in lockdown, they reported either an increase in the recurrence of these symptoms or the addition of a symptom for several days in that period of time. Participants that did not report being lonely, were not demonstrating changes in the levels of depressive symptoms.
The government findings after the pandemic showed that “older adults who were recommended to shield were more likely to report higher levels of depression, anxiety and loneliness in June and July 2020 than people of a similar age but not recommended to shield”
If you are someone experiencing symptoms of depression after the lockdown, please contact us at Salus Wellness Clinics for free advice and to explore possible solutions we can offer.