Araújo Odete, Sousa Lia, Sampaio Francisco, Rodrigues Cláudia, Santos Nadine Correia, Sequeira Carlos, Teixeira Laetitia
School of Nursing, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
Health Sciences Research Unit: Nursing (UICISA: E), Nursing School of Coimbra (ESEnfC), 3045-043 Coimbra, Portugal.
Healthcare (Basel). 2025 Jun 20;13(13):1483. doi: 10.3390/healthcare13131483.
: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the mental health of the general population, particularly older adults. This study aimed to explore the association between loneliness and mental health disorders in this demographic during the pandemic. : A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Portugal using data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) database between June and August 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic (Wave 8 COVID-19 Survey), using computer-assisted telephone interviews. : The final sample included 836 participants, with 387 (46.4%) men and a mean age of 74.5 years (SD = 6.7). Mental health indicators revealed that 441 (52.1%) reported feelings of nervousness, 384 (45.3%) experienced sadness or depression, 349 (41.2%) encountered sleeping difficulties, and 280 (33.1%) reported experiencing loneliness often or some of the time. Increased feelings of loneliness were notably associated with women in poorer health, those with heightened fear of falling, dizziness, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and concurrent health and sleep issues. Age and medication use did not significantly impact feelings of loneliness. : The findings highlight a potential association between adverse mental health outcomes among older adults during the initial phase of the pandemic. Future research, employing longitudinal research designs, is warranted to explore these relationships more rigorously, in a post-pandemic context, and to inform effective intervention development and strategies to prevent mental health problems within this vulnerable population.
新冠疫情对普通人群，尤其是老年人的心理健康产生了深远影响。本研究旨在探讨疫情期间这一人群中孤独感与心理健康障碍之间的关联。
2020年6月至8月新冠疫情期间（第8波新冠疫情调查），在葡萄牙利用欧洲健康、老龄化与退休调查（SHARE）数据库的数据开展了一项横断面调查，采用计算机辅助电话访谈。
最终样本包括836名参与者，其中387名（46.4%）为男性，平均年龄74.5岁（标准差 = 6.7）。心理健康指标显示，441名（52.1%）报告有紧张情绪，384名（45.3%）经历过悲伤或抑郁，349名（41.2%）有睡眠困难，280名（33.1%）报告经常或有时感到孤独。孤独感增加与健康状况较差的女性、害怕跌倒、头晕、疲劳、焦虑、抑郁以及同时存在健康和睡眠问题的人群显著相关。年龄和用药情况对孤独感没有显著影响。
研究结果凸显了疫情初期老年人心理健康不良后果之间的潜在关联。未来有必要采用纵向研究设计开展研究，以便在疫情后背景下更严格地探究这些关系，并为制定有效的干预措施和预防这一弱势群体心理健康问题的策略提供依据。
