Modification of social roles performance in people with Long COVID: A qualitative study.

León-Herrera, Sandra (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Samper-Pardo, Mario ; Oliván-Blázquez, Bárbara (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Aldecoa-Landesa, Susana ; Sánchez-Arizcuren, Rafael (Universidad de Zaragoza)

Resumen: Introduction: In the long term, the impact of Long COVID symptomatology can alter the organization of people's lives. This article aims to analyze by gender the modification and loss of social roles in people with Long COVID, as well as those barriers or strengths that this population may present when performing their roles.

Methods: A qualitative design was implemented with 35 participants, recruited in primary care centers in Zaragoza (Spain) and “Long COVID Aragón” Patients Association. They were interviewed individually and were part of two focus groups. The research topics were modifications in the performance of social roles and the strengths and barriers that favored or hindered them. All analyses were conducted iteratively using NVivo software.

Results: All participants reported a loss or modification of affective, social, work, and other roles. As factors that promote this loss (barriers) were named persistent symptoms, and the feeling of misunderstanding by the social and health system. The strengths to recover their roles and quality of life were their social network, their own search for health resources, and associationism. In the participants’ discourse, differences in gender roles are shown.

Conclusion: Long COVID significantly impacts social roles, leading to disruptions in work, caregiving, or social activities. These findings highlight the need for tailored healthcare and social interventions to address gender-specific challenges and support social role recovery.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1159/000546333

Año: 2025

Publicado en: VERHALTENSTHERAPIE (2025), 21
ISSN: 1016-6262

Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/DGA/B21-23R-GAIAP
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/ISCIII/FIS/PI21-01356

Tipo y forma: Article (PostPrint)

Área (Departamento): Área Psicología Social (Dpto. Psicología y Sociología)
Área (Departamento): Área Fisioterapia (Dpto. Fisiatría y Enfermería)