Jenna Littlejohn1, Annalena Venneri2, Antonia Marsden3, Christopher J Plack1,4. 1. Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness (ManCAD), University of Manchester, Manchester, UK. 2. Department of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK. 3. Centre for Biostatistics, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK. 4. Department of Psychology, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether hearing difficulties exacerbate the damaging effects of enforced social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic on isolation and loneliness, and lead to accelerated mental health issues and cognitive dysfunction. DESIGN: Rapid online survey. Participants completed a series of online questionnaires regarding hearing ability, socialisation (pre- and during-pandemic), loneliness, anxiety, depression and cognitive function. STUDY SAMPLE: A total of 80 participants over the age of 70 with access to the internet. RESULTS: There was a significant reduction in socialisation levels from pre-pandemic in this population. Hearing difficulties were significantly associated with greater levels of loneliness, depression and self-perceived cognitive dysfunction after controlling for age, gender, and level of education. Additionally, compared to pre-pandemic, people with hearing difficulties had increased odds of reporting worsened anxiety, depression, and memory during the COVID-19 pandemic, although only the effect of hearing difficulties on the change in memory reached statistical significance after controlling for age, gender, and level of education. CONCLUSIONS: The worse the self-reported hearing abilities are, the greater the negative impact of enforced social distancing on depression, loneliness and cognitive function.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether hearing difficulties exacerbate the damaging effects of enforced social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic on isolation and loneliness, and lead to accelerated mental health issues and cognitive dysfunction. DESIGN: Rapid online survey. Participants completed a series of online questionnaires regarding hearing ability, socialisation (pre- and during-pandemic), loneliness, anxiety, depression and cognitive function. STUDY SAMPLE: A total of 80 participants over the age of 70 with access to the internet. RESULTS: There was a significant reduction in socialisation levels from pre-pandemic in this population. Hearing difficulties were significantly associated with greater levels of loneliness, depression and self-perceived cognitive dysfunction after controlling for age, gender, and level of education. Additionally, compared to pre-pandemic, people with hearing difficulties had increased odds of reporting worsened anxiety, depression, and memory during the COVID-19 pandemic, although only the effect of hearing difficulties on the change in memory reached statistical significance after controlling for age, gender, and level of education. CONCLUSIONS: The worse the self-reported hearing abilities are, the greater the negative impact of enforced social distancing on depression, loneliness and cognitive function.
Entities:
Keywords:
COVID-19; Hearing difficulties; cognitive function; mental health; social distancing
Authors: Marja Eliisa Holm; Päivi Sainio; Jaana Suvisaari; Katri Sääksjärvi; Tuija Jääskeläinen; Suvi Parikka; Seppo Koskinen Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-06-07 Impact factor: 4.614