The longitudinal effect of COVID-19 infections and lockdown on mental health and the protective effect of neighbourhood social relations.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

The effect of COVID-19 lockdowns on mental health is a major concern worldwide. Measuring the impacts, however, is difficult because of a lack of data that tracks and compares outcomes and potential protective social factors before and during lockdowns.

Objective

We aim to quantify the impact of a second lockdown in 2020 in the Australian city of Melbourne on levels of depression, anxiety, and loneliness, and analyse whether social relations in the neighbourhood may buffer against the worst effects of lockdown.

Methods

We draw on quasi-experimental data from a nationally-representative longitudinal survey conducted in Australia. We use a difference-in-difference approach with a number of control variables to estimate changes in mental health among respondent

SUBMITTER: O'Donnell J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8847081 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature