Study assesses the impact of social isolation of adults and the elderly
A team from the University of Coimbra (UC) is developing a study to assess the real impact of the social isolation imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic on the physical and psychological well-being of adults and the elderly, especially in the development of psychopathology and in association with risk for cognitive decline.
In other words, the team led by Sandra Freitas, from the Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention (CINEICC), Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Coimbra (FPCEUC), is investigating possible changes in symptoms depression, functional capacity, memory complaints, cognitive status and quality of life of the Portuguese population, caused by the confinement resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
In order to compare the person’s cognitive and psychological functioning before and after mandatory social confinement, 250 adults (from 50 years old) and elderly people from all over the country who had participated in previous studies were recruited, since the group of Sandra Freitas is dedicated to the investigation of neuropsychological changes, pathological or not, resulting from aging.
Thus, “a more rigorous assessment of the impact of social isolation on mental health is possible, given that we had data prior to the pandemic”, explains the coordinator of the study.
In view of a detailed analysis of the impact of social isolation in the face of the pandemic COVID-19 on the mental health of this fringe of the Portuguese population, participants were subjected, through video call, to specific psychological (neuro) assessment batteries for these purposes, examining them changes in depressive symptoms, anxiety and stress, quality and satisfaction of life, functional capacity, memory complaints and cognitive status.
Possible relationships with sociodemographic characteristics and risk profiles were also observed, as well as the «existing literacy among participants for topics related to COVID-19, social isolation and mental health», says the CINEICC researcher.
