Lockdown Lives: A Longitudinal Study of Inter-Relationships Among Feelings of Loneliness, Social Contacts, and Solidarity During the COVID-19 Lockdown in Early 2020

Jolien A. van Breen; Maja Kutlaca; Yasin  Koç; Bertus F. Jeronimus; Anne-Margit Reitsema; Veljko  Jovanović; Maximilian Agostini; Jocelyn J. Bélanger; Ben Gützkow; Jannis  Kreienkamp; Mioara Cristea; PsyCorona Team

doi:10.1177/01461672211036602

Lockdown Lives: A Longitudinal Study of Inter-Relationships Among Feelings of Loneliness, Social Contacts, and Solidarity During the COVID-19 Lockdown in Early 2020

Jolien A. van Breen, Maja Kutlaca, Yasin Koç, Bertus F. Jeronimus, Anne-Margit Reitsema, Veljko Jovanović, Maximilian Agostini, Jocelyn J. Bélanger, Ben Gützkow, Jannis Kreienkamp, Mioara Cristea, PsyCorona Team

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15 Citations (Scopus)

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Abstract

We examine how social contacts and feelings of solidarity shape experiences of loneliness during the COVID-19 lockdown in early 2020. From the PsyCorona database, we obtained longitudinal data from 23 countries, collected between March and May 2020. The results demonstrated that although online contacts help to reduce feelings of loneliness, people who feel more lonely are less likely to use that strategy. Solidarity played only a small role in shaping feelings of loneliness during lockdown. Thus, it seems we must look beyond the current focus on online contact and solidarity to help people address feelings of loneliness during lockdown. Finally, online contacts did not function as a substitute for face-to-face contacts outside the home—in fact, more frequent online contact in earlier weeks predicted more frequent face-to-face contacts in later weeks. As such, this work provides relevant insights into how individuals manage the impact of restrictions on their social lives.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1315-1330
Number of pages	16
Journal	Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
Volume	48
Issue number	9
Early online date	25 Aug 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/01461672211036602
Publication status	Published - Sept 2022

Keywords

COVID-19
loneliness
longitudinal methodology
online communication
solidarity

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Social Psychology

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10.1177/01461672211036602

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van Breen, J. A., Kutlaca, M., Koç, Y., Jeronimus, B. F., Reitsema, A.-M., Jovanović, V., Agostini, M., Bélanger, J. J., Gützkow, B., Kreienkamp, J., Cristea, M., & PsyCorona Team (2022). Lockdown Lives: A Longitudinal Study of Inter-Relationships Among Feelings of Loneliness, Social Contacts, and Solidarity During the COVID-19 Lockdown in Early 2020. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 48(9), 1315-1330. https://doi.org/10.1177/01461672211036602

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title = "Lockdown Lives: A Longitudinal Study of Inter-Relationships Among Feelings of Loneliness, Social Contacts, and Solidarity During the COVID-19 Lockdown in Early 2020",

abstract = "We examine how social contacts and feelings of solidarity shape experiences of loneliness during the COVID-19 lockdown in early 2020. From the PsyCorona database, we obtained longitudinal data from 23 countries, collected between March and May 2020. The results demonstrated that although online contacts help to reduce feelings of loneliness, people who feel more lonely are less likely to use that strategy. Solidarity played only a small role in shaping feelings of loneliness during lockdown. Thus, it seems we must look beyond the current focus on online contact and solidarity to help people address feelings of loneliness during lockdown. Finally, online contacts did not function as a substitute for face-to-face contacts outside the home—in fact, more frequent online contact in earlier weeks predicted more frequent face-to-face contacts in later weeks. As such, this work provides relevant insights into how individuals manage the impact of restrictions on their social lives.",

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author = "{van Breen}, {Jolien A.} and Maja Kutlaca and Yasin Ko{\c c} and Jeronimus, {Bertus F.} and Anne-Margit Reitsema and Veljko Jovanovi{\'c} and Maximilian Agostini and B{\'e}langer, {Jocelyn J.} and Ben G{\"u}tzkow and Jannis Kreienkamp and Mioara Cristea and {PsyCorona Team}",

note = "Funding Information: The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This research received support from the New York University Abu Dhabi (VCDSF/75-71015), the University of Groningen (Sustainable Society & Ubbo Emmius Fund), and the Spanish government (COV20/00086). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 by the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Inc.",

year = "2022",

month = sep,

doi = "10.1177/01461672211036602",

language = "English",

volume = "48",

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van Breen, JA, Kutlaca, M, Koç, Y, Jeronimus, BF, Reitsema, A-M, Jovanović, V, Agostini, M, Bélanger, JJ, Gützkow, B, Kreienkamp, J, Cristea, M & PsyCorona Team 2022, 'Lockdown Lives: A Longitudinal Study of Inter-Relationships Among Feelings of Loneliness, Social Contacts, and Solidarity During the COVID-19 Lockdown in Early 2020', Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, vol. 48, no. 9, pp. 1315-1330. https://doi.org/10.1177/01461672211036602

Lockdown Lives: A Longitudinal Study of Inter-Relationships Among Feelings of Loneliness, Social Contacts, and Solidarity During the COVID-19 Lockdown in Early 2020. / van Breen, Jolien A.; Kutlaca, Maja; Koç, Yasin et al.
In: Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, Vol. 48, No. 9, 09.2022, p. 1315-1330.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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T1 - Lockdown Lives: A Longitudinal Study of Inter-Relationships Among Feelings of Loneliness, Social Contacts, and Solidarity During the COVID-19 Lockdown in Early 2020

AU - van Breen, Jolien A.

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AU - Koç, Yasin

AU - Jeronimus, Bertus F.

AU - Reitsema, Anne-Margit

AU - Jovanović, Veljko

AU - Agostini, Maximilian

AU - Bélanger, Jocelyn J.

AU - Gützkow, Ben

AU - Kreienkamp, Jannis

AU - Cristea, Mioara

AU - PsyCorona Team

N1 - Funding Information: The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This research received support from the New York University Abu Dhabi (VCDSF/75-71015), the University of Groningen (Sustainable Society & Ubbo Emmius Fund), and the Spanish government (COV20/00086). Publisher Copyright: © 2021 by the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Inc.

PY - 2022/9

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N2 - We examine how social contacts and feelings of solidarity shape experiences of loneliness during the COVID-19 lockdown in early 2020. From the PsyCorona database, we obtained longitudinal data from 23 countries, collected between March and May 2020. The results demonstrated that although online contacts help to reduce feelings of loneliness, people who feel more lonely are less likely to use that strategy. Solidarity played only a small role in shaping feelings of loneliness during lockdown. Thus, it seems we must look beyond the current focus on online contact and solidarity to help people address feelings of loneliness during lockdown. Finally, online contacts did not function as a substitute for face-to-face contacts outside the home—in fact, more frequent online contact in earlier weeks predicted more frequent face-to-face contacts in later weeks. As such, this work provides relevant insights into how individuals manage the impact of restrictions on their social lives.

AB - We examine how social contacts and feelings of solidarity shape experiences of loneliness during the COVID-19 lockdown in early 2020. From the PsyCorona database, we obtained longitudinal data from 23 countries, collected between March and May 2020. The results demonstrated that although online contacts help to reduce feelings of loneliness, people who feel more lonely are less likely to use that strategy. Solidarity played only a small role in shaping feelings of loneliness during lockdown. Thus, it seems we must look beyond the current focus on online contact and solidarity to help people address feelings of loneliness during lockdown. Finally, online contacts did not function as a substitute for face-to-face contacts outside the home—in fact, more frequent online contact in earlier weeks predicted more frequent face-to-face contacts in later weeks. As such, this work provides relevant insights into how individuals manage the impact of restrictions on their social lives.

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DO - 10.1177/01461672211036602

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Lockdown Lives: A Longitudinal Study of Inter-Relationships Among Feelings of Loneliness, Social Contacts, and Solidarity During the COVID-19 Lockdown in Early 2020

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