Abstract

Objectives

This article examines the influence of social networks on selected aspects of mental health following the outbreak of the coronavirus.

Method

We linked data from a post outbreak telephone survey in 2020 by the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe, with baseline data from SHARE Wave 6 (2016) (n = 33,485). Two mental health measures (depression and anxiety) were regressed on social network variables relevant to the Covid-19 crisis (frequency of face-to-face contact and frequency of contact through electronic means), controlling for confounders. Interactions of age group and social networks were considered. Baseline mental health was controlled, focusing the analysis on post-outbreak mental health change.

Results

Face-to-face network contact significantly reduced negative mental health changes while electronic contact significantly increased them. The age interactions were insignificant. Country differences were observed.

Conclusion

The findings suggest that face-to-face social networks can moderate the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on important aspects of mental health.

中文翻译：

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Covid-19 爆发后老年人的社交网络和心理健康变化

摘要

目标

本文研究了冠状病毒爆发后社交网络对心理健康某些方面的影响。

方法

我们将欧洲健康、老龄化和退休调查在 2020 年爆发后电话调查的数据与 SHARE Wave 6 (2016) ( n  = 33,485) 的基线数据联系起来。在控制混杂因素的情况下，对与 Covid-19 危机相关的社交网络变量（面对面接触的频率和通过电子方式的接触频率）进行了两项心理健康测量（抑郁和焦虑）的回归。考虑了年龄组和社交网络的相互作用。基线心理健康得到控制，重点分析暴发后心理健康变化。

结果

面对面的网络接触显着减少了负面的心理健康变化，而电子接触显着增加了这些变化。年龄交互作用不大。观察到国家差异。

结论

研究结果表明，面对面的社交网络可以减轻 COVID-19 大流行对心理健康重要方面的负面影响。