ABSTRACT

This study aimed to explore the impact of the COVID-19 restrictions on social relationships of forensic psychiatric outpatients with preexisting social network-related problems. Data from 70 participants of an ongoing randomized controlled trial, investigating the effectiveness of a social network intervention among forensic psychiatric outpatients, were examined. Demographic characteristics, quality of social relationships, loneliness, and social support were assessed at baseline. During the COVID-19 pandemic, an additional questionnaire that contained quantitative and qualitative questions regarding the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on social relationships was administered. Participants showed high levels of loneliness and dissatisfaction with social relationships before COVID-19. The majority of forensic outpatients perceived no changes on social relationships due to the COVID-19 restrictions. Qualitative results revealed some participants already lived socially isolated. Negative changes on social relationships were related to deterioration of social contacts, interruption of daytime activities, changed mental health care, and well-being. Emotional loneliness predicted deteriorated general and romantic relationships. These findings suggest that social relationships of forensic patients with preexisting social network-related problems remain of concern throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

摘要

本研究旨在探讨 COVID-19 限制对先前存在社交网络相关问题的法医精神病门诊患者的社会关系的影响。我们对一项正在进行的随机对照试验的 70 名参与者的数据进行了检查，该试验调查了社交网络干预对法医精神病门诊患者的有效性。在基线时评估人口特征、社会关系质量、孤独感和社会支持。在 COVID-19 大流行期间，还进行了一份额外的调查问卷，其中包含有关 COVID-19 限制对社会关系的影响的定量和定性问题。在 COVID-19 之前，参与者表现出高度的孤独感和对社会关系的不满。大多数法医门诊患者认为，由于 COVID-19 的限制，社会关系没有发生变化。定性结果显示，一些参与者已经生活在社会孤立之中。社会关系的负面变化与社会交往恶化、白天活动中断、心理健康保健和幸福感改变有关。情感孤独预示着一般关系和浪漫关系的恶化。这些发现表明，在整个 COVID-19 大流行期间，先前存在社交网络相关问题的法医患者的社会关系仍然令人担忧。白天活动中断，心理健康护理和幸福感发生变化。情感孤独预示着一般关系和浪漫关系的恶化。这些发现表明，在整个 COVID-19 大流行期间，先前存在社交网络相关问题的法医患者的社会关系仍然令人担忧。白天活动中断，心理健康护理和幸福感发生变化。情感孤独预示着一般关系和浪漫关系的恶化。这些发现表明，在整个 COVID-19 大流行期间，先前存在社交网络相关问题的法医患者的社会关系仍然令人担忧。