Mental Health and Digital Practices of Family Caregivers in France Since the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic and the related confinement it caused have led to significant social distancing. Family caregivers, an “invisible” population, seem to have been particularly affected by this context. In this sense, in this article, we question the psychopathological impact of this pandemic on...

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Main Authors: Lise Haddouk, Brian Tervil, Donovan Morel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Psychiatry International
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-5318/6/2/38
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author Lise Haddouk
Brian Tervil
Donovan Morel
author_facet Lise Haddouk
Brian Tervil
Donovan Morel
author_sort Lise Haddouk
collection DOAJ
description The COVID-19 pandemic and the related confinement it caused have led to significant social distancing. Family caregivers, an “invisible” population, seem to have been particularly affected by this context. In this sense, in this article, we question the psychopathological impact of this pandemic on caregivers, but also their use of digital tools and e-health as a lever. To do this, we applied a methodology involving both quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis. We created and distributed an online survey and conducted interviews with the main caregivers of a person suffering from a physical, mental, and/or cognitive disorder, or an elderly person losing their independence. Our observations show that the psychological frailty of this population is important, with a fairly high prevalence of signs of anxiety (58.4%) and depression (50.7%), especially compared with the general population. In our sample, the use of digital tools did not seem to be in the context of e-health, but more in a social context of communication with others. This raises the following two important questions: Is it possible to predict and prevent the psychological frailty of caregivers? Can digital tools and networks of caregivers’ groups provide leverage and respite?
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spelling doaj-art-1cbc2e8834364d0380002a48b4462d132025-08-20T03:27:32ZengMDPI AGPsychiatry International2673-53182025-04-01623810.3390/psychiatryint6020038Mental Health and Digital Practices of Family Caregivers in France Since the COVID-19 PandemicLise Haddouk0Brian Tervil1Donovan Morel2Université Paris Cité, Université Paris Saclay, ENS Paris Saclay, CNRS, SSA, INSERM, Centre Borelli, F-75006 Paris, FranceUniversité Paris Saclay, Université Paris Cité, ENS Paris Saclay, CNRS, SSA, INSERM, Centre Borelli, F-91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, FranceUniversité Paris Cité, Université Paris Saclay, ENS Paris Saclay, CNRS, SSA, INSERM, Centre Borelli, F-75006 Paris, FranceThe COVID-19 pandemic and the related confinement it caused have led to significant social distancing. Family caregivers, an “invisible” population, seem to have been particularly affected by this context. In this sense, in this article, we question the psychopathological impact of this pandemic on caregivers, but also their use of digital tools and e-health as a lever. To do this, we applied a methodology involving both quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis. We created and distributed an online survey and conducted interviews with the main caregivers of a person suffering from a physical, mental, and/or cognitive disorder, or an elderly person losing their independence. Our observations show that the psychological frailty of this population is important, with a fairly high prevalence of signs of anxiety (58.4%) and depression (50.7%), especially compared with the general population. In our sample, the use of digital tools did not seem to be in the context of e-health, but more in a social context of communication with others. This raises the following two important questions: Is it possible to predict and prevent the psychological frailty of caregivers? Can digital tools and networks of caregivers’ groups provide leverage and respite?https://www.mdpi.com/2673-5318/6/2/38family caregiversCOVID-19psychopathologydigital usese-health
spellingShingle Lise Haddouk
Brian Tervil
Donovan Morel
Mental Health and Digital Practices of Family Caregivers in France Since the COVID-19 Pandemic
Psychiatry International
family caregivers
COVID-19
psychopathology
digital uses
e-health
title Mental Health and Digital Practices of Family Caregivers in France Since the COVID-19 Pandemic
title_full Mental Health and Digital Practices of Family Caregivers in France Since the COVID-19 Pandemic
title_fullStr Mental Health and Digital Practices of Family Caregivers in France Since the COVID-19 Pandemic
title_full_unstemmed Mental Health and Digital Practices of Family Caregivers in France Since the COVID-19 Pandemic
title_short Mental Health and Digital Practices of Family Caregivers in France Since the COVID-19 Pandemic
title_sort mental health and digital practices of family caregivers in france since the covid 19 pandemic
topic family caregivers
COVID-19
psychopathology
digital uses
e-health
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-5318/6/2/38
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