Association of loneliness and social isolation with mental disorders among medical residents during the COVID-19 pandemic: A multi-center cross-sectional study

• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115233
• Publication Date: 2023-05-11T06:21:53Z
• Authors: Yingliang Wei; Jun Tang; Jianzhu Zhao; Jiajian Liang; Zhiyuan Li; Song Bai
• Keywords: Cross-Sectional Studies; Social Isolation; Depression; Loneliness; Mental Disorders; Humans; COVID-19; Internship and Residency; 10. No inequality; Pandemics; Article; 3. Good health; Suicidal Ideation

Loneliness and social isolation usually increase the risk of mental disorders. However, this association among Chinese medical residents during the COVID-19 pandemic remains unclear.This study was conducted in September 2022; 1,338 medical residents from three hospitals in Northeastern China were included in the final analysis. The data were collected via online self-administered questionnaires. Adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were determined for adjusting for potential confounders by binary logistic regression.Among the 1,338 participants, 12.93% (173), 9.94% (133), and 9.72% (130) had experienced major depression, major anxiety, and suicidal ideation, respectively. Further, 24.40% (327) and 44.50% (596) of the total participants had experienced loneliness and social isolation. Loneliness increased the risk of major depression, major anxiety, and suicidal ideation (all p<0.001); Compared with the lowest quartile, the odds ratios of the highest quartile were 4.81, 4.63, and 5.34. The same result was obtained in relation to social isolation (all p<0.001).The findings of this study revealed a considerable prevalence of loneliness, social isolation, and mental disorders among Chinese medical residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Both loneliness and social isolation increased the risk of major depression, major anxiety, and suicidal ideation.