Psychological distress and well-being among sensory impaired individuals during COVID-19 lockdown measures.

PubMed ID: 36639063

Author(s): Merten N, Schultz AA, Walsh MC, van Landingham SW, Peppard PE, Ryff CDS, Malecki KC. Psychological distress and well-being among sensory impaired individuals during COVID-19 lockdown measures. Ann Epidemiol. 2023 Mar;79:19-23. doi: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2023.01.002. Epub 2023 Jan 10. PMID 36639063

Journal: Annals Of Epidemiology, Volume 79, Mar 2023

PURPOSE Hearing and vision impairment are prevalent chronic conditions associated with poorer mental health. Limitations of in-person contacts during COVID-19-related lockdown measures may affect those with sensory impairments more severely exacerbating mental health problems. We aimed to determine whether hearing and/or visual impairment were associated with more psychological distress during a time of lockdown measures in Spring/Summer 2020 in Wisconsin.

METHODS We included 1341(64% women, aged 20-92 years) Survey of the Health of Wisconsin COVID-19 survey participants (May 2020-July,2020). We assessed self-reported current mental health and well-being and vision and hearing impairment. Logistic regression models with sensory impairments as determinants and mental health outcomes were adjusted for age, gender, race, education, heart disease, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes.

RESULTS Vision impairment was associated with increased odds of generalized anxiety disorder (odds ratio = 2.10; 95% confidence interval = 1.32-3.29) and depressive symptoms (2.57;1.58-4.11), greater likelihood to report loneliness (1.65;1.00-2.64) and hopelessness (1.45;1.01-2.08). Hearing impaired individuals reported more loneliness (1.80;1.05-2.98) and hopelessness (1.42;0.99-2.03). Exploratory analyses revealed that sensory impaired individuals less often chose walking as a coping strategy during the pandemic.

CONCLUSIONS Individuals with sensory impairment may represent a particularly vulnerable population during the COVID-19 pandemic. Future research should determine underlying reasons and interventions to mitigate this populations’ disadvantages.