The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychosocial well-being of people with disabilities

Abstract

Background: Before the COVID-19 pandemic, people with mobility, vision, hearing, and cognitive disabilities were at a higher risk of lower psychosocial well-being than people without disabilities. It is, therefore, of great importance to investigate whether the pandemic has exacerbated this difference.

Objective: This study examines whether people with disabilities (categorized as mobility, vision, hearing, cognitive, and any disabilities) report more COVID-19-related negative effects on psychosocial well-being (loneliness, decreased social contact, decreased hope for the future, concerns about being infected) than people without disabilities.

Methods: We analyzed population-based data from the Finnish Health, Welfare, and Services (FinSote) survey carried out in 2020-2021 (N = 22 165, age 20+). Logistic regression models were applied, controlling for the effects of age, sex, partnership, living alone, and education.

Results: All disability groups, except those with vision disabilities, reported significantly more often that the pandemic increased loneliness than people without disabilities. There were no significant differences between the disability groups and people without disabilities in decreased social contacts. People with only mobility and cognitive disabilities reported significantly more often that the pandemic decreased their hope for the future than those without disabilities. All disability groups were more often concerned about being infected than people without disabilities, but this effect was not significant among people 75 or older.

Conclusion: The psychosocial well-being of people with specific types of disabilities should receive special attention during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords: COVID-19; Disabilities; Population survey; Psychosocial well-being; Specific disability types.