Immunisations and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Department, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom.
Division of Surgery & Interventional Science, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
PLoS One. 2023 Nov 21;18(11):e0294165. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0294165. eCollection 2023.
During the COVID-19 pandemic children and young people (CYP) were socially restricted during a stage of life crucial to development, potentially putting an already vulnerable population at higher risk of loneliness, social isolation, and poorer wellbeing. The objectives of this study are to conduct an exploratory analysis into loneliness before and during the pandemic, and determine which self-reported factors are associated with loneliness.
Participants from The Children with Long COVID (CLoCk) national study were invited to take part via an online survey, with a total of 31,017 participants taking part, 31,016 of which reported on their experience of loneliness. Participants retrospectively answered questions on demographics, lifestyle, physical health and mental health and loneliness before the pandemic and at the time of answering the survey. Before the pandemic 6.5% (2,006/31,016) of participants reported experiencing loneliness "Often/Always" and at the time of survey completion 17.4% (5,395/31,016) reported feeling lonelier. There was an association between meeting the research definition of long COVID and loneliness [3.49 OR, 95%CI 3.28-3.72]. CYP who reported feeling lonelier at the time of the survey than before the pandemic were assigned female at birth, older CYP, those from Black/African/Caribbean/Black British or other ethnicity groups, those that had 3-4 siblings and lived in more deprived areas.
We demonstrate associations between multiple factors and experiences of loneliness during the pandemic. There is a need for a multi-faceted integrated approach when developing interventions targeted at loneliness. It is important to follow up the CYP involved at regular intervals to investigate the progression of their experience of loneliness over time.
在 COVID-19 大流行期间，儿童和青少年（CYP）在生命中至关重要的发展阶段受到社会限制，这可能使已经脆弱的人群面临更高的孤独、社会隔离和更差的健康风险。本研究的目的是对大流行前后的孤独感进行探索性分析，并确定哪些自我报告的因素与孤独感相关。
来自儿童长新冠（CLoCk）全国研究的参与者被邀请通过在线调查参与，共有 31,017 名参与者参与，其中 31,016 名报告了他们的孤独感体验。参与者回顾性地回答了关于人口统计学、生活方式、身体健康和心理健康以及大流行前和回答调查时的孤独感问题。在大流行前，6.5%（2,006/31,016）的参与者报告经常/总是感到孤独，而在完成调查时，17.4%（5,395/31,016）的参与者报告感到更孤独。符合长新冠研究定义与孤独感之间存在关联[3.49 OR，95%CI 3.28-3.72]。在调查时比大流行前更感到孤独的 CYP 被分配为女性，年龄较大的 CYP、来自黑人/非洲/加勒比/黑英国人或其他族裔群体、有 3-4 个兄弟姐妹和生活在较贫困地区的 CYP。
我们证明了多种因素与大流行期间的孤独感之间存在关联。在制定针对孤独感的多方面综合干预措施时，需要采取这种方法。重要的是要定期随访所涉及的 CYP，以调查他们的孤独感随时间的进展情况。
