1. Social Rhythm Disruption is Associated with Greater Depressive Symptoms in People with Mood Disorders: Findings from a Multinational Online Survey During COVID-19.
- Author
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Kahawage P, Bullock B, Meyer D, Gottlieb J, Crowe M, Swartz HA, Yatham LN, Inder M, Porter RJ, Nierenberg AA, Meesters Y, Gordijn M, Haarman BCM, and Murray G
- Subjects
- Depression epidemiology, Humans, Mood Disorders epidemiology, Pandemics, Surveys and Questionnaires, COVID-19, Depressive Disorder, Major epidemiology
- Abstract
Objectives: Societal restrictions imposed to prevent transmission of COVID-19 may challenge circadian-driven lifestyle behaviours, particularly amongst those vulnerable to mood disorders. The overarching aim of the present study was to investigate the hypothesis that, in the routine-disrupted environment of the COVID-19, amongst a sample of people living with mood disorders, greater social rhythm disruption would be associated with more severe mood symptoms., Methods: We conducted a two-wave, multinational survey of 997 participants ( M A g e = 39.75 ± 13.39 , F e m a l e = 81.6 % ) who self-reported a mood disorder diagnosis (i.e., major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder). Respondents completed questionnaires assessing demographics, social rhythmicity (The Brief Social Rhythm Scale), depression symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), sleep quality and diurnal preference (The Sleep, Circadian Rhythms and Mood questionnaire) and stressful life events during the COVID-19 pandemic (The Social Readjustment Rating Scale)., Results: The majority of participants indicated COVID-19-related social disruption had affected the regularity of their daily routines to at least some extent ( n = 788, 79.1%). As hypothesised, lower social rhythmicity was associated with greater depressive symptoms when tested cross-sectionally (standardised β = -.25, t = -7.94, P = 0.000) and when tested using a 2-level hierarchical linear model across two time points ( b = -0.14, t = -3.46, df = 264, P ≤ 0.001)., Conclusions: These results are consistent with the social zeitgeber hypothesis proposing that mood disorders are sensitive to life events that disrupt social rhythms.
- Published
- 2022
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