[Influence of social contacts on corona concerns in the nursing home population : Quantitative cross-sectional...

During the pandemic caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in spring and summer 2020, the anxiety and concerns of residents living in long-term care facilities about contracting and falling ill from the virus (corona concerns) increased. Contact to close persons represents an important asset in coping with concerns or anxiety; however, this was strictly regulated particularly in nursing facilities. Therefore, an elevated psychological burden was assumed; however, there is a lack of representative data.

This study aims to answer the question: how do social contacts influence the corona concerns of long-term nursing home residents?

In summer 2020 a representative sample of 259 long-term nursing home residents in the whole of Austria participated in a standardized face-to-face interview.

Firstly, the data show a high emotional burden in nursing home residents; however, many residents also demonstrated a certain degree of mental resilience. Secondly, there was an association between emotional loneliness and higher corona concerns (odds ratio, OR = 2.30; p < 0.01). Thirdly, a frequent contact with relatives via telephone or in person also related to higher corona concerns (OR = 1.32; p < 0.05).

In the current times, when one crisis is replaced by the next, more knowledge is needed about the mental resilience of long-term nursing home residents and how it can be promoted. Furthermore, more knowledge is needed about the role of relatives and whether they are more the origin of concerns or they represent a strategy for coping with concerns.