Emotional changes in people with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Introduction. Given the dependence on other people and special services, and their increased susceptibility to COVID-19 infection, people with disabilities can be considered a vulnerable group in this crisis. Therefore, it was interesting to examine the differences in various emotional states in people with disabilities. Objectives. The first objective was to determine whether there was a difference between the experienced emotional states (loneliness, helplessness, insecurity, happiness, fulfillment, security) before and since the beginning of the pandemic. The second objective was to examine whether there was a difference between the experienced emotional states in relation to the number of household members. Methods. The study included a total of 230 participants, 52.2% of whom were male and 47.8% female. Data were collected through an online survey, and a small percentage of participants used the paper-pencil survey method. Data collection lasted for two months, from January to March 2021. A part of the online form contained questions about emotional states before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in relation to the number of household members. Results. The t-test for dependent samples and a series of ANOVA were conducted. The results of the conducted t-tests for each emotional state indicated a statistically significant difference in the level of experience of each observed emotional state before and since the beginning of the pandemic. The results of the ANOVA showed that those who lived with three or more household members felt less lonely, insecure and helpless, and also happier and more fulfilled compared to those who lived alone or with one or two people. Conclusion. Our role is to think, devise, advocate and implement ways to improve and encourage mental health care, especially in people with disabilities, bearing in mind possible future crisis situations.

Uvod: Usled zavisnosti od drugih i njihove pomoći, kao i povećane osetljivosti na infekciju COVID-19, osobe s invaliditetom mogu se smatrati ranjivom grupom u ovoj krizi, pa je bilo interesantno proveriti promene u različitim emocionalnim stanjima kod ove populacije. Ciljevi: Prvi cilj je bio da se ispita da li postoji razlika između doživljenih emocionalnih stanja (usamljenost, bespomoćnost, nesigurnost, sreća, ispunjenost i sigurnost) pre i tokom pandemije. Drugi cilj je bio da se ispita da li postoji razlika između doživljenih emocionalnih stanja u odnosu na broj članova domaćinstva. Metode: U istraživanju je učestvovalo ukupno 230 ispitanika, od čega je 52.2% ispitanika muškog pola, a 47.8% ispitanika ženskog pola. Podaci su prikupljeni putem onlajn ankete, a mali deo ispitanika anketiran je metodom papir-olovka. Prikupljanje podataka trajalo je dva meseca, od januara do marta 2021. Deo onlajn obrasca sadržao je pitanja o emocionalnim stanjima pre i tokom epidemije COVID-19 u odnosu na broj članova u domaćinstvu. Rezultati: Primenjen je t-test za zavisne uzorke i serija jednosmernih analiza varijanse. Rezultati t-testa pokazuju da postoji statistički značajna razlika u nivou doživljaja svakog posmatranog emocionalnog stanja pre i tokom pandemije. Rezultati jednosmerne analize varijanse pokazuju da se oni koji žive s tri ili više članova osećaju manje usamljeno, nesigurno i bespomoćno, kao i srećnije i ispunjenije u odnosu na one koji žive sami ili s još jednom do dve osobe. Zaključak: Uloga svih nas je da razmišljamo, smišljamo, zagovaramo i implementiramo načine za poboljšanje i podsticanje zaštite mentalnog zdravlja, posebno u populaciji osoba s invaliditetom, imajući u vidu neke buduće krizne situacije.