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The impact of COVID-19 on wellbeing, depression, and physical activity of informal caregivers and non-caregivers during isolation.

Schorren, BSc Nick (2020) The impact of COVID-19 on wellbeing, depression, and physical activity of informal caregivers and non-caregivers during isolation.

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Abstract:Background. While self-isolation of the population is proving to prevent rapid contamination of COVID-19 in the Netherlands, these measures seem to alter daily life and induce mental and physical deficiencies. Especially informal caregivers, who already displayed caregiving burden and health issues, could be vulnerable to the current isolation. Therefore, wellbeing, depression, and physical activity scores are compared before and during isolation for all respondents, between informal and non-caregivers, and between informal caregivers having either a caretaker at their household or outside their household. Methods. A cross-sectional survey design was used. Respondents were gathered by spreading the questionnaire via a range of social media platforms and by contacting healthcare professionals. The SMFQ, SWEMWBS, and IPAQ-SF were used to determine depression, wellbeing, and physical activity values, respectively, before and during isolation. Results. A total of 275 participants were included of which n = 60 (22%) were identified as informal caregivers, with n = 12 (20%) of the informal caregivers having a caretaker at their household. Findings proved small to moderate significant negative effects of isolation on the total sample’s wellbeing (p < .001), depression (p < .001), and physical activity (p = .001) scores. Informal caregivers reported a significantly greater change in wellbeing (p = .015) and depression (p = .001) scores than non-caregivers, while physical activity changes proved insignificant between the two. Informal caregivers having a caretaker at their household showed significantly greater change in depression (p = .03) than informal caregivers having a caretaker outside their household but not in physical activity and wellbeing. Conclusion. Isolation of the Dutch population is showing negative mental and physical effects, with informal caregivers displaying somewhat more vulnerability for changes in wellbeing and depression values. Therefore, the impact of COVID-19 should not be underestimated and handled accordingly.
Item Type:Essay (Bachelor)
Faculty:BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Subject:70 social sciences in general, 77 psychology
Programme:Psychology BSc (56604)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/82470
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