Sepoy-logo
No Result
View All Result
Thursday, November 30, 2023
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Health
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • Economy
  • Crypto
  • Travel
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Health
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • Economy
  • Crypto
  • Travel
No Result
View All Result
SEPOY.NET
No Result
View All Result
Home Health

Study highlights the pressing need to support people who have been shielding from Covid-19

Nicholas by Nicholas
July 1, 2022
in Health
0

Research from a new study suggests that health anxiety among the clinically vulnerable groups who shielded at home has risen since the first pandemic wave, despite developments in viral treatment and the roll-out of the vaccination programme.

The new study, authored by psychologists at the University of Bath, is the first to use validated measures of mental health to focus on the effects of the pandemic for those who have been shielding or continue to shield. It finds that health anxieties among these groups grew in line with the length of time they spent indoors.

Conversely, and in comparison with work carried out by the same research team during the first wave of Covid-19, anxiety among the wider population decreased over time. This suggests that whilst health anxieties fell for the general population, they rose considerably for shielders.

In March 2020, before lockdown, the government identified individuals who were ‘clinically vulnerable’ and advised them to shield. Guidelines included avoiding contact with others and asking friends and family to collect shopping. These applied to individuals with weakened immune systems and underlying health conditions.

From August 2021, government shielding guidance ended. However due to further waves of Covid-19, many individuals chose to continue shielding and take additional precautions. At the end of 2021, 22% of people who met the clinically vulnerable status continued to shield, whilst 68% were taking added precautions.

On Friday 1 July 2022, the last remaining guidance for people shielding with compromised immune systems is due to be reviewed, which is likely to affect around half a million people. Concern has been expressed from user-groups who fear the impact of being forced back to work and into society when Covid-19 is endemic.

Set against this context, the research from the team at Bath explored the mental health effects of the second wave of Covid-19 (January 2021) for people shielding compared with the first wave (March – April 2020). Two separate research studies drew on questionnaire responses from individuals of all ages and health conditions.

The first study (Rettie & Daniels, 2021), conducted during the first lockdown in early 2020 involved 842 individuals from the general public; this second study (Daniels & Rettie, 2022), carried out during the second lockdown in early 2021 involved 723 individuals, specifically those from shielding groups.

Their results show that those shielding have been more fearful of contamination, more anxious about their health and more anxious generally when compared to the broader population. Around 40% of those shielding were ‘clinically anxious about their health’; a higher proportion than rates reported during the first wave.

Additionally, they highlight how older populations were more anxious about their health and women continued to be more adversely affected when compared to men. Around half of those shielding other people also experienced ‘vicarious health anxiety’ – the first time this specific issue has been explored by researchers.

The team, Dr Jo Daniels and Dr Hannah Rettie, say these findings highlight a pressing need for increased psychological support for people who have been shielding in some cases for more than two years. Their study offers insight into the ways psychological therapies, such as CBT, can be adapted to support shielders.

The researchers also stress that their findings should not be interpreted as meaning that shielding groups are over-anxious. Given the threats of Covid-19, they say fear is a very normal response for those at risk of significant consequences, particularly in the absence of almost all protective measures and extended periods of social isolation.

As Covid-19 slips from the front pages, those who have been shielding – or continue to shield – have become a forgotten group. But the pandemic has had profound effects on their lives with a heavy mental health burden.

Our latest findings reveal that whereas health-related anxieties among the general population have fallen over the past two years, which is of course likely to be related to the vaccine roll-out, it appears that anxieties among the shielding populations have grown. As final guidelines are reviewed, and potentially lifted, we must provide greater support to those in most need.

Policy-makers need to be aware of the psychological impact of shielding over the course of the pandemic as they make decisions about the support and future plans in relation to the clinically vulnerable. Many who are continuing to follow guidance for the immunosuppressed will be anxious if forced to return to work, and to society in general.”

Dr Jo Daniels, Clinical Psychologist, Department of Psychology, University of Bath

Source:

Journal reference:

Daniels, J & Rettie, H., (2022) The Mental Health Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic Second Wave on Shielders and Their Family Members. International Journal of Environmental Research. doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19127333.

READ ALSO

The effects of vitamin K on bone health

Study sheds new light on the profound influence of music on our moral compass

Tags: Anxietycovid-19Mental HealthPandemicResearch

Related Posts

The effects of vitamin K on bone health
Health

The effects of vitamin K on bone health

November 30, 2023
Study sheds new light on the profound influence of music on our moral compass
Health

Study sheds new light on the profound influence of music on our moral compass

November 30, 2023
Lyme disease aftercare: new insights into persistent symptoms
Health

Lyme disease aftercare: new insights into persistent symptoms

November 29, 2023
PlaqueTec recruits first ten patients in BIOPATTERN trial
Health

PlaqueTec recruits first ten patients in BIOPATTERN trial

November 29, 2023
Researchers introduce CRISPR-mediated genome and cancer shredding as a conceptual paradigm to treat recurrent gliomas
Health

Researchers introduce CRISPR-mediated genome and cancer shredding as a conceptual paradigm to treat recurrent gliomas

November 29, 2023
Government launches consultation to introduce new protections for children from future strike action
Health

Government launches consultation to introduce new protections for children from future strike action

November 29, 2023
Next Post

What the US property insurance market can expect for the rest of 2022

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

POPULAR NEWS

Roblox Is Unbreakable Trello Is this safe?

Roblox Is Unbreakable Trello Is this safe?

November 4, 2022
Discord Registered Games  Discord Registered Gaming You need to join the Club

Discord Registered Games Discord Registered Gaming You need to join the Club

November 4, 2022
How To Chose the Right Data Analytics Program

How To Chose the Right Data Analytics Program

November 4, 2022
Heavy explosion on market square in Halle – three injured

Heavy explosion on market square in Halle – three injured

November 4, 2022

Shivon Zilis Wiki, Height, Age, Boyfriend, Husband, Family, Biography & More

July 11, 2022

EDITOR'S PICK

Friv5Online Games Studio: Building Fun and Engaging Online Games

Friv5Online Games Studio: Building Fun and Engaging Online Games

February 24, 2023
The Damaging Impact of Data Loss on Small Businesses

The Damaging Impact of Data Loss on Small Businesses

August 4, 2023

Indira Krishnan Wiki, Age, Husband, Family, Biography & More

July 18, 2022
Shoulder Bags for Women: Gift Your Loved One the Exclusive Shoulder Bag for the Precious Occasion

Shoulder Bags for Women: Gift Your Loved One the Exclusive Shoulder Bag for the Precious Occasion

November 23, 2022

About

Sepoy.net is a perfect place for people who want daily updates on news related to business, technology, entertainment, health, cryptocurrency etc.

Contact: [email protected]

Major Categories

News

Business

Tech

Economy

 

Recent Posts

  • Liveblog zum Krieg in Nahost: Ägypten und Qatar bemühen sich um Verlängerung der Feuerpause
  • Terra Classic : l’USTC explose de +300% – Que se passe-t-il ?
  • The effects of vitamin K on bone health

Pages

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Disclaimer
  • DMCA
  • Home
  • Privacy Policy

© 2023 Sepoy.net

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Business
  • News
  • Health
  • Tech
  • Science
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel

© 2023 Sepoy.net

x