Rights statement: This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in International Journal of Audiology on 15th March 2021, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/14992027.2021.1894492
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Final published version
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Self-reported hearing difficulties are associated with loneliness, depression and cognitive dysfunction during the COVID-19 pandemic
AU - Littlejohn, Jenna
AU - Venneri, Annalena
AU - Marsden, Antonia
AU - Plack, Christopher
N1 - This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in International Journal of Audiology on 15th March 2021, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/14992027.2021.1894492
PY - 2022/2/28
Y1 - 2022/2/28
N2 - ObjectiveTo investigate whether hearing difficulties exacerbate the damaging effects of enforced social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic on isolation and loneliness, and lead to accelerated mental health issues and cognitive dysfunction.DesignRapid online survey. Participants completed a series of online questionnaires regarding hearing ability, socialisation (pre- and during-pandemic), loneliness, anxiety, depression and cognitive function.Study sampleA total of 80 participants over the age of 70 with access to the internet.ResultsThere was a significant reduction in socialisation levels from pre-pandemic in this population. Hearing difficulties were significantly associated with greater levels of loneliness, depression and self-perceived cognitive dysfunction after controlling for age, gender, and level of education. Additionally, compared to pre-pandemic, people with hearing difficulties had increased odds of reporting worsened anxiety, depression, and memory during the COVID-19 pandemic, although only the effect of hearing difficulties on the change in memory reached statistical significance after controlling for age, gender, and level of education.ConclusionsThe worse the self-reported hearing abilities are, the greater the negative impact of enforced social distancing on depression, loneliness and cognitive function.
AB - ObjectiveTo investigate whether hearing difficulties exacerbate the damaging effects of enforced social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic on isolation and loneliness, and lead to accelerated mental health issues and cognitive dysfunction.DesignRapid online survey. Participants completed a series of online questionnaires regarding hearing ability, socialisation (pre- and during-pandemic), loneliness, anxiety, depression and cognitive function.Study sampleA total of 80 participants over the age of 70 with access to the internet.ResultsThere was a significant reduction in socialisation levels from pre-pandemic in this population. Hearing difficulties were significantly associated with greater levels of loneliness, depression and self-perceived cognitive dysfunction after controlling for age, gender, and level of education. Additionally, compared to pre-pandemic, people with hearing difficulties had increased odds of reporting worsened anxiety, depression, and memory during the COVID-19 pandemic, although only the effect of hearing difficulties on the change in memory reached statistical significance after controlling for age, gender, and level of education.ConclusionsThe worse the self-reported hearing abilities are, the greater the negative impact of enforced social distancing on depression, loneliness and cognitive function.
U2 - 10.1080/14992027.2021.1894492
DO - 10.1080/14992027.2021.1894492
M3 - Journal article
VL - 61
SP - 97
EP - 101
JO - International Journal of Audiology
JF - International Journal of Audiology
SN - 1499-2027
IS - 2
ER -