Psychological Effects of Home Confinement and Social Distancing Derived from COVID-19 in the General Population—A Systematic Review

Paula Rodríguez-Fernández, Josefa González-Santos, Mirian Santamaría-Peláez, Raúl Soto-Cámara, Esteban Sánchez-González and Jerónimo J. González-Bernal
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Paula Rodríguez-Fernández: Department of Health Sciences, University of Burgos, 09001 Burgos, Spain
Josefa González-Santos: Department of Health Sciences, University of Burgos, 09001 Burgos, Spain
Mirian Santamaría-Peláez: Department of Health Sciences, University of Burgos, 09001 Burgos, Spain
Raúl Soto-Cámara: Department of Health Sciences, University of Burgos, 09001 Burgos, Spain
Esteban Sánchez-González: Department of Health Sciences, University of Jan Kochanowski, 25-369 Kielce, Poland
Jerónimo J. González-Bernal: Department of Health Sciences, University of Burgos, 09001 Burgos, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 12, 1-18

Abstract: (1) Background: Home confinement and social distancing are two of the main public health measures to curb the spread of SARS-Cov-2, which can have harmful consequences on people’s mental health. This systematic review aims to identify the best available scientific evidence on the impact that home confinement and social distancing, derived from the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, have had on the mental health of the general population in terms of depression, stress and anxiety. (2) Methods: A systematic search was conducted on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and ScienceDirect between 2 January 2021 and 7 January 2021, in accordance with the recommendations of the PRISMA Declaration. The selection of studies and the evaluation of their methodological quality were performed in pairs, independently and blindly, based on predetermined eligibility criteria. (3) Results: The 26 investigations reviewed were developed in different regions and countries. Factors that are associated with poor mental health were female gender, young ages, having no income and suffering from a previous psychiatric illness. Inadequate management of the pandemic by authorities and a lack or excess of information also contributed to worse mental health. (4) Conclusions: There are groups of people more likely to suffer higher levels of anxiety, depression and stress during the restrictive measures derived from COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; pandemic; home confinement; social distancing; mental health; adults; general population; anxiety; depression; stress (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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