Meram Medical Faculty, Family Medicine Department, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey.
Karatay 37th Karşehir Family Health Center, Konya, Turkey.
Int J Clin Pract. 2021 Jun;75(6):e14089. doi: 10.1111/ijcp.14089. Epub 2021 Mar 4.
Social isolation and quarantine are unusual precautions taken all over the world against the COVID-19 pandemic. Some legal sanctions were made in order to protect vulnerable age groups such as the geriatric population, to make them stay at home. These measures, which are vital for pandemic management, have negative psychological effects on elderly individuals. The aim of this study was to reveal how pandemic process affected individuals over 65 years old psychosocially.
Socio-demographic characteristics questionnaire, the COVID-19 Phobia Scale (C19P-S) and the Loneliness Scale for the Elderly individuals were used. Descriptive analysis, Mann-Whitney U-test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Pearson correlation analysis were performed for data analysis.
A total of 130 elderly people (80 women, 50 men) were included in the study. Of the participants, 61.5% were women, 67.7% were married and mean age was 71.53 ± 5.57 (min. 65-max. 87) years old. The C19P-S scores were significantly higher in women, singles, people living alone, those living in an apartment, and those with higher economic and educational level (P = .001). There was a strong positive correlation between age and total loneliness score. Loneliness scores were significantly higher in singles, those with higher levels of education and income, those who live alone, who was a relative of a healthcare worker, and whose relatives were infected with COVID-19 (P < .05).
Our study revealed that elderly individuals, who have to comply with social isolation rules, have increased fear and loneliness due to coronavirus. Considering this situation, timely psychological treatment and social support measures should be taken.
社交隔离和检疫是全球为应对 COVID-19 大流行而采取的非常规预防措施。为了保护脆弱的年龄群体，如老年人群体，让他们呆在家里，采取了一些法律制裁措施。这些措施对大流行管理至关重要，但对老年人的心理有负面影响。本研究旨在揭示大流行过程如何对 65 岁以上的个体产生心理社会影响。
使用了社会人口统计学特征问卷、COVID-19 恐惧症量表（C19P-S）和老年人孤独量表。对数据进行了描述性分析、Mann-Whitney U 检验、Kruskal-Wallis 检验、Pearson 相关分析。
共纳入 130 名老年人（80 名女性，50 名男性）。参与者中 61.5%为女性，67.7%为已婚，平均年龄为 71.53±5.57（最小 65 岁，最大 87 岁）。女性、单身、独居、居住在公寓、经济和教育水平较高的参与者 C19P-S 评分显著较高（P=0.001）。年龄与总孤独评分呈强正相关。单身、教育程度和收入较高、独居、是医护人员亲属、亲属感染 COVID-19 的个体孤独评分显著较高（P<0.05）。
我们的研究表明，由于冠状病毒，必须遵守社交隔离规则的老年人的恐惧和孤独感增加。考虑到这种情况，应及时采取心理治疗和社会支持措施。
