COVID-19 Home Confinement Negatively Impacts Social Participation and Life Satisfaction: A Worldwide Multicenter Study
Authors: Ammar Achraf , Chtourou Hamdi , Boukhris Omar , Trabelsi Khaled , Masmoudi Liwa , Brach Michael , Bouaziz Bassem , Bentlage Ellen , How Daniella , Ahmed Mona , Mueller Patrick , Mueller Notger , Hsouna Hsen , Aloui Asma , Hammouda Omar , Paineiras-Domingos Laisa , Braakman-Jansen Annemarie , Wrede Christian , Bastoni Sophia , Pernambuco Carlos , Mataruna-Dos-Santos Leonardo , Taheri Morteza , Irandoust Khadijeh , Khacharem Aïmen , Bragazzi Nicola , Strahler Jana , Washif Jad , Andreeva Albina , khoshnami Samira , Samara Evangelia , Zisi Vasiliki , Sankar Parasanth , Ahmed Waseem , Romdhani Mohamed , Delhey Jan , Bailey Stephen , Bott Nicholas , Gargouri Faiez , Chaari Lotfi , Batatia Hadj , Ali Gamal , Abdelkarim Osama , Jarraya Mohamed , Abed Kais , Souissi Nizar , Gemert-Pijnen Lisette , Riemann Bryan , Riemann Laurel , Moalla Wassim , Gómez-Raja Jonathan , Epstein Monique , Sanderman Robbert , Schulz Sebastian , Jerg Achim , Al-Horani Ramzi , Mansi Taiysir , Jmail Mohamed , Barbosa Fernando , Ferreira-Santos Fernando , Šimunič Boštjan , Pišot Rado , Pišot Saša , Gaggioli Andrea , Zmijewski Piotr , Apfelbacher Christian , Steinacker Jürgen , Saad Helmi , Glenn Jordan , Chamari Karim , Driss Tarak , Hoekelmann Anita ,   on behalf of the ECLB-COVID19 Consortium
Published: August 2020

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.