COVID-19 Home Confinement Negatively Impacts Social Participation and Life Satisfaction: A Worldwide Multicenter Study

Ammar A, Chtourou H, Boukhris O, Trabelsi K, Masmoudi L, Brach B, Bouaziz B, Bentlage B, How D, Ahmed M, Mueller P, Mueller N, Hsouna H, Aloui A, Hammouda O, Paineiras-Domingos L, Braakman-Jansen A, Wrede C, Bastoni S, Soares Pernambuco C, Mataruna-Dos-Santos M, Taheri M, Irandoust K, Khacharem A, Bragazzi N, Strahler J, Washif J, Andreeva A, Khoshnami S, Samara E, Zisi V, Sankar P, Ahmed W, Romdhani M, Delhey J, Bailey S, Bott N, Gargouri F, Chaari L, Batatia H, Ali G, Abdelkarim O, Jarraya M, El Abed K, Souissi N, Van Gemert-Pijnen L, Riemann B, Riemann L, Moalla W, Gómez-Raja J, Epstein M, Sanderman R, Schulz S, Jerg A, Al-Horani R, Mansi T, Jmail M, Barbosa F, Ferreira-Santos F, Šimuni B, Pišot R, Pišot S, Gaggioli A, Zmijewski P, Apfelbacher C, Steinacker J, Ben Saad H, Glenn J, Chamari K, Driss T, Hoekelmann A

Abstract

Public health recommendations and governmental measures during the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic have enforced numerous restrictions on daily living including social distancing, isolation, and home confinement. While these measures are imperative to mitigate spreading of COVID-19, the impact of these restrictions on psychosocial health is undefined. Therefore, an international online survey was launched in April 2020 to elucidate the behavioral and lifestyle consequences of COVID-19 restrictions. This report presents the preliminary results from more than one thousand responders on social participation and life satisfaction. Methods: Thirty-five research organizations from Europe, North-Africa, Western Asia, and the Americas promoted the survey through their networks to the general society, in 7 languages (English, German, French, Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese, and Slovenian). Questions were presented in a differential format with questions related to responses “before” and “during” confinement conditions. Results: 1047 participations (54% women) from Asia (36%), Africa (40%), Europe (21%), and others (3%) were included in the analysis. Findings revealed psychosocial strain during the enforced COVID-19 home confinement. Large decreases (p < 0.001) in the amount of social activity through family (−58%), friends/neighbors (−44.9%), or entertainment (−46.7%) were triggered by the enforced confinement. These negative effects on social participation were also associated with lower life satisfaction (−30.5%) during the confinement period. Conversely, the social contact score through digital technologies significantly increased (p < 0.001) during the confinement period with more individuals (+24.8%) being socially connected through digital technology. Conclusion: These preliminary findings elucidate the risk of psychosocial strain during the early COVID-19 home confinement period in 2020. Therefore, in order to mitigate the negative psychosocial effects of home confinement, implementation of national strategies focused on promoting social inclusion through a technology-based solution is strongly suggested.