Loneliness, Social Relationships and Family Communication: The Impact on the Mental Health of Severe COVID-19 Survivors in the Long Term

Background: Given the significant physical and psychological impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in severe survivors, understanding the long-term consequences of psychosocial factors is crucial for developing effective support interventions. Methods: The longitudinal impact on emotional distress of loneliness, social relationships, and quality of communication with family members during hospitalization was analyzed in 75 Spain survivors of bilateral pneumonia and respiratory failure who required hospitalization during Wave 1 in a two-year longitudinal study of severe COVID-19. Results: The results showed that certain variables at baseline were significant predictors of depressive symptoms two years later: worse perceived health and higher levels of perceived loneliness. Better social relationships and a higher quality of family communication with relatives during the hospitalization significantly predicted lower levels of depression longitudinally. In addition, results showed that being female patient, worse perceived health, and worse social relationships significantly predicted higher levels of anxiety 2 years later. Conclusions: Results suggest that psychosocial factors contribute to longitudinally explain distress in patients who have been hospitalized from a severe disease (i.e., COVID-19).