Pandemic shielding doubled depressive symptoms in over 50s

Older people who were shielding throughout the pandemic were nearly twice as likely to experience depressive symptoms as those who were not, according to researchers from the University of Manchester and UCL.

The study, published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, shows that staying at home throughout the pandemic as well as shielding were strongly associated with greater risks of depressive symptoms, anxiety, and lower quality of life.

The research team used data from over 5,000 adults over 50 who are part of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing to investigate the link between shielding and mental health, after controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, pre-pandemic physical and mental health, and social isolation measures. The data was collected during the first eight to nine months of the pandemic, two of which were characterised by ongoing lockdowns.

Lead author Dr Giorgio Di Gessa, of UCL, said: ‘Our analysis supports the idea that shielding itself has been harmful, over and above other known vulnerabilities.

‘One reason for this could be the psychological impact of being told so starkly of your own vulnerability and mortality and the policing of your own behaviour, and resulting anxiety and stress.’

Respondents were asked whether in April, June/July, and November/December 2020 they shielded (not going out of the house for any reasons), stayed at home (leaving only for very limited purposes, such as shopping for food, exercise, or essential work) or neither. Their mental health was then assessed by asking questions about depressive symptoms, anxiety, well-being and quality of life.

About 28% of respondents reported that they shielded at least once, with 5% shielding throughout the first 8/9 months of the pandemic. About a third reported staying at home all the time whereas 37% neither shielded nor stayed at home.

Among those adults who shielded at all times, in November and December 2020, 42% reported elevated depressive symptoms compared to 23% among those who never shielded or stayed at home. Older people shielding throughout the period studied also reported the lowest life satisfaction and quality of life scores.

The researchers were able to account for pre-pandemic mental and physical health as well as for social contacts with family and friends and loneliness during the pandemic to better understand if the relationships observed between shielding and poorer mental health was driven by pre-existing conditions or reduced social interactions and higher loneliness during the pandemic.

Co-author Debbie Price, of the University of Manchester, said: ‘If the long-term health and social wellbeing of older people is to be safeguarded, there must be careful thought given to addressing the mental health and wider needs of individuals at higher risk from Covid-19 variants, or future pandemics.’

Photo by Mika Baumeister