Comparing the effects of reduced social contact on psychosocial wellbeing before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal survey from two Norwegian counties.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

To determine changes to people's social contact during COVID-19, and whether reduced social contact was associated with changes to psychosocial wellbeing.

Methods

Questionnaire data were collected from a sample of adult respondents (18 years or more) in two Norwegian counties participating pre-COVID-19 (September 2019-February 2020; n = 20,196) and at two time points during COVID-19 (June [Mid] and November/December [Late] 2020; n = 11,953 and n = 10,968, respectively). The main outcome measures were participants' self-reported changes to social contact, loneliness, psychological distress, and life satisfaction.

Results

The proportion of respondents reporting less social contact due to COVID-19 decreased from 62% in Mid-2020 to 55% in Late-2020. Overall, repor

SUBMITTER: Kalseth J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9922041 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature