Psychosocial health in people with diabetes during the fi rst three months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Aims: To analyze trajectories of psychosocial health among people with diabetes during the first three months of lockdowns and reopenings of the COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark.

Methods: An online longitudinal survey of 2430 people with diabetes consisting of six questionnaire waves (Q1 Q6) was conducted between March 19 and June 25, 2020. Psychosocial outcomes assessed were COVID-19 worries, quality of life, feelings of social isolation, psychological distress, diabetes distress, anxiety, and general and diabetes-specific loneliness. Trajectories in psychosocial health were analyzed with linear multilevel mixed-effects models. Subgroup analyses were conducted.

Results: In total, 1366 (56%) people with diabetes responded to the first questionnaire. COVID-19 worries, feelings of social isolation, psychological distress, anxiety and general loneliness had all improved at Q6 compared to Q1 (p <0.001). In general, improvements in psychosocial health started after the first reopening phase (April 15); however, general loneliness increased up to the first reopening phase (p

Conclusions: Psychosocial health in people with diabetes improved following reopening of society. However, increases in loneliness and decreases in quality of life during lockdown indicates a potential need to mitigate the acute effects of such policies.

(c) 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Original languageEnglish
Article number107858
JournalJournal of Diabetes and its Complications
Volume35
Issue number4
Number of pages8
ISSN1056-8727
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021

    Research areas

  • COVID-19, Diabetes mellitus, Psychosocial factors, Quality of life, Social isolation, Loneliness

ID: 259718958