Impacts of social isolation among disadvantaged and vulnerable groups during public health crises

June 2020

As part of ESRC’s response to the Covid19 pandemic, a review was commissioned to address the question: What is known about the impacts of social isolation on disadvantaged, marginalised, and vulnerable populations in the context of pandemics and other public health crises?

The review defines vulnerable groups as those at greater risk of infection and/or of adverse effects of social distancing measures. The review identifies gaps and priorities for further research and proposes policies to mitigate the impacts of social distancing and isolation and prevent the widening of social inequalities.

Society-wide social distancing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic has transformed, more or less overnight, our social worlds, with far-reaching effects on education, jobs, incomes, housing, relationships, and on physical and mental health. These social restrictions – while essential to save lives – are likely to have a disproportionate impact on the most disadvantaged, marginalised, and vulnerable. In developing effective policy responses, we need to know what existing research tells us about the effects of social isolation and distancing in the context of public health crises, how these pattern by social group, the mechanisms involved, and what can be done to mitigate adverse effects.

The review identified 50 empirical papers that considered the impacts of social isolation in the context of pandemics and other public health crises. Included studies were methodologically varied and spanned several countries and pandemics.

Several key findings emerged:

Mental health problems are more common in vulnerable and disadvantaged groups following individual or community-wide periods of social isolation in the context of public health crises.
The disproportionate impact among vulnerable and disadvantaged groups extends to other interrelated outcomes, such as income, employment, access to food, and discrimination.
These disparities are especially pronounced at the intersections of multiple vulnerabilities and disadvantages (e.g. low income, insecure employment, and minority ethnic group status).
Social restrictions that confine people to their homes for extended periods increase risk of abuse and exploitation, particularly among girls and women.

Implications

There are several implications relevant to social isolation in the context of public health crises. For example, the available evidence suggests:

High levels of mental distress in disadvantaged and vulnerable groups during periods of social restrictions relate particularly to uncertainties around work, income, housing, and access to food. Policies designed to alleviate these uncertainties may mitigate mental distress and burden.
Lack of money, food, and other necessities make adherence to social restrictions impossible for some, which suggests policies to alleviate uncertainties in these areas may also ensure greater compliance with social distancing.
There are particular adverse impacts on children and adolescents, especially those with pre-existing mental health and other needs, which suggests policies targeted at mitigating the effects among young people may be especially important..

In addressing the gaps in evidence, social science methods, theories, and research are critical.