1. The findings from this review were presented at the UK Health Security Agency Conference 2023
You can listen to the narrated poster here: https://youtu.be/uJ7RlFj76Cg
Citation: Martin AF, Smith LE, Brooks SK, Stein M, Davies R, Amlôt R, Greenberg N & Rubin GJ (2023) The impact of self-isolation on psychological wellbeing and how to reduce it: a systematic review and narrative synthesis, UKHSA, Leeds, UK.
2. The preliminary findings from this review were presented at the 37th Annual Conference of the European Health Psychology Society
Citation: Martin AF, Smith LE, Brooks SK, Stein M, Davies R, Rubin GJ (2023) Self-isolation and psychological wellbeing in the context of infectious disease. EHPS, Bremen, Germany.
Abstract:
**Background:** Isolation is the short-term separation of those who are infectious from those who are not. During the COVID-19 pandemic, self-isolation was one of the public health measures used to prevent the spread of infection. It is likely that this measure will be used in future outbreaks, as it was for mpox in 2022. Isolation can have an impact on psychological wellbeing, but the specific impact is unclear.
**Methods:** We searched Medline, PsychINFO, Web of Science, pre-print servers, and grey literature for studies reporting primary data investigating the impact of self-isolation on psychological wellbeing. Studies published between January 2020 and December 2022 were included. Results were synthesised in a systematic literature review following PRISMA guidelines.
**Findings:** We found 23,626 articles and considered 167 in the review. Using the Cochrane recommended Risk of Bias tools, the literature showed considerable heterogeneity across studies. Self-isolation was associated with negative, and some positive, impacts on wellbeing, which varied depending on the psychological and sociodemographic characteristics of the sample. Those with inadequate access to support reported a greater impact on their wellbeing. Interventions targeting the impact of self-isolation on psychological wellbeing were rare.
**Discussion:** When implementing self-isolation directives in the future, public health officials should prioritise those with pre-existing mental health needs and others with reduced access to the resources they need.
