About this Research Topic
The COVID-19 pandemic has generated, as a consequence of the isolation and fear promoted by the potential contagion, psychosocial and public health problems that vary according to the population group under analysis. Thus, in the case of older adults, being a high-risk population, social isolation causes depression, anxiety, cardiovascular, autoimmune and neurocognitive complications. In the case of children and adolescents, the loss of contact with their peers, the new modalities of school classes, not being able to go out to play sports or play outdoors, etc., have produced different disorders with harmful repercussions for their mental health. On the other hand, healthcare workers constitute a case of special risk, since they not only suffer from the anxiety of caring for the sick but are often not properly protected, all of which seriously affects their mental well-being. Each population group has difficulties and disorders that must be addressed separately.
This Research Topic aims to collect evidence, through the results of distinct research groups in different countries and according to the characteristics of the preventive measures taken by the health authorities of each place, about the effects of isolation and the fear of contagion by COVID 19, in different population groups: children, adolescents, the elderly, parents, healthcare workers, and other essential services personnel. The importance of identifying and understanding the different aspects of this problem lies in the fact that it allows us to provide inputs to prepare public health action programs that reduce the long-term negative effects of this phenomenon. To achieve the stated objective, we ask to participate and contribute, different research groups from different parts of the world that are working on the subject.
This Research Topic will analyze research on psychosocial effects of isolation and fear of contagion of COVID-19 from different population groups. We are particularly interested in quantitative transversal and longitudinal research contributions. Topics may include, but are not limited to:
• Consequences on mental health of social isolation in older adults
• Negative emotions and experiences associated with prolonged isolation in the general population
• Psychosocial consequences in children and adolescents of prolonged isolation
• Mental well-being of healthcare workers affected to treat COVID-19 patients
• Negative psychosocial effects on public servers (security, essential services personnel, etc.)
• Perception of stress in teachers of different educational levels
This Research Topic aims to collect evidence, through the results of distinct research groups in different countries and according to the characteristics of the preventive measures taken by the health authorities of each place, about the effects of isolation and the fear of contagion by COVID 19, in different population groups: children, adolescents, the elderly, parents, healthcare workers, and other essential services personnel. The importance of identifying and understanding the different aspects of this problem lies in the fact that it allows us to provide inputs to prepare public health action programs that reduce the long-term negative effects of this phenomenon. To achieve the stated objective, we ask to participate and contribute, different research groups from different parts of the world that are working on the subject.
This Research Topic will analyze research on psychosocial effects of isolation and fear of contagion of COVID-19 from different population groups. We are particularly interested in quantitative transversal and longitudinal research contributions. Topics may include, but are not limited to:
• Consequences on mental health of social isolation in older adults
• Negative emotions and experiences associated with prolonged isolation in the general population
• Psychosocial consequences in children and adolescents of prolonged isolation
• Mental well-being of healthcare workers affected to treat COVID-19 patients
• Negative psychosocial effects on public servers (security, essential services personnel, etc.)
• Perception of stress in teachers of different educational levels
Keywords: COVID-19 Outbreak, Psychosocial Effects, Isolation, Fear of Contagion, Mental Health, Population Groups
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
