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Minimal Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Mental Health and Wellbeing of People Living With Dementia Analysis of Matched Longitudinal Data From the IDEAL Study
Sabatini, S. Bennett, H.Q. Martyr, A. Collins, R. Gamble, L.D. Matthews, F.E. Pentecost, C. Dawson, E. Hunt, A. Parker, S.
Sabatini, S.
Bennett, H.Q.
Martyr, A.
Collins, R.
Gamble, L.D.
Matthews, F.E.
Pentecost, C.
Dawson, E.
Hunt, A.
Parker, S.
Publication Date
2022-03-09
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© 2022 The Authors. This is an Open Access article distributed under the Creative Commons CC-BY license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
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Yes
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openAccess
Accepted for publication
2022-02-14
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Abstract
Research suggests a decline in the mental health and wellbeing of people
with dementia (PwD) during the COVID-19 pandemic; however few studies have
compared data collected pre-pandemic and during the pandemic. Moreover, none have
compared this change with what would be expected due to dementia progression.
We explored whether PwD experienced changes in mental health and wellbeing by
comparing pre-pandemic and pandemic data, and drew comparisons with another
group of PwD questioned on two occasions prior to the pandemic.
Methods: Community-dwelling PwD enrolled in the IDEAL programme were split into
two groups matched for age group, sex, dementia diagnosis, and time since diagnosis.
Although each group was assessed twice, one was assessed prior to and during the
pandemic (pandemic group; n = 115) whereas the other was assessed prior to the
pandemic (pre-pandemic group; n = 230). PwD completed measures of mood, sense
of self, wellbeing, optimism, quality of life, and life satisfaction.
Results: Compared to the pre-pandemic group, the pandemic group were less likely
to report mood problems, or be pessimistic, but more likely to become dissatisfied with
their lives. There were no changes in continuity in sense of self, wellbeing, and quality
of life.
Discussion: Results suggest the pandemic had little effect on the mental health and
wellbeing of PwD, with any changes observed likely to be consistent with expected
rates of decline due to dementia. Although personal accounts attest to the challenges
experienced, PwD appear to have been resilient to the impact of lockdown and social
restrictions during the pandemic.
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Published version
Citation
Sabatini S, Bennett HQ and Martyr A (2022) Minimal Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Mental Health and Wellbeing of People Living With Dementia Analysis of Matched Longitudinal Data From the IDEAL Study. Frontiers in Psychiatry. 13: 849808.
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Article