Open AccessAssociation Between Serious Psychological Distress and Loneliness During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study with Pregnant Japanese Women
Author(s) -
Takashi Takeda,
Kana Yoshimi,
Sayaka Kai,
Fumi Inoue
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
international journal of women's health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.136
H-Index - 45
ISSN - 1179-1411
DOI - 10.2147/ijwh.s338596
Subject(s) - loneliness , medicine , cross sectional study , odds ratio , distress , demography , social isolation , social support , pandemic , confidence interval , psychiatry , clinical psychology , psychology , covid-19 , disease , social psychology , pathology , sociology , infectious disease (medical specialty)
Pregnant women are vulnerable to stress. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused a global pandemic and created significant stress for many people. Social distancing to reduce the spread of COVID-19 has also reduced social interactions, which has increased social isolation and loneliness. Loneliness is thought to increase perceived stress, cause psychological distress, and increase the risk of mental illness, such as depression. This study examined the association between serious psychological distress (SPD) and loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic in pregnant Japanese women.