Self-quarantining, social distancing, and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: A multi wave, longitudinal investigation

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298461
• Publication Date: 2024-02-26T18:34:35Z
• Authors: Jerin Lee; Jenna Wilson; Benjamin Oosterhoff; Natalie J. Shook
• Keywords: Social distance; Longitudinal Study; Distancing; Social Isolation; Pandemic

Social isolation and disconnectedness increase the risk of worse mental health, which might suggest that preventive health measures (i.e., self-quarantining, social distancing) negatively affect health. This longitudinal study examined relations self-quarantining distancing with during COVID-19 pandemic. A U.S. national sample ( N = 1,011) completed eight weekly online surveys from March 20, 2020 to May 17, 2020. Surveys assessed distancing, anxiety, depression. Fixed-effect autoregressive cross-lagged models provided a good fit data, allowing for disaggregation between-person within-person effects. Significant effects suggested those who engaged in more had higher anxiety depression compared less quarantining. indicated greater given week experienced week. However, there was no support or as prospective predictors vice versa. Findings relationship between both but further research is required understand nature this identify third variables may explain these associations.