TY - JOUR
T1 - Loneliness and Its Associated Factors Nine Months after the COVID-19 Outbreak
T2 - A Cross-National Study
AU - Bonsaksen, Tore
AU - Schoultz, Mariyana
AU - Thygesen, Hilde
AU - Ruffolo, Mary
AU - Price, Daicia
AU - Leung, Janni
AU - Geirdal, Amy Østertun
PY - 2021/3/11
Y1 - 2021/3/11
N2 - COVID-19 has been a global healthcare concern impacting multiple aspects of individual and community wellness. As one moves forward with different methods to reduce the infection and mortality rates, it is critical to continue to study the impact that national and local “social distancing” policies have on the daily lives of individuals. The aim of this study was to examine loneliness in relation to risk assessment, measures taken against risks, concerns, and social media use, while adjusting for sociodemographic variables. The cross-sectional study collected data from 3474 individuals from the USA, the UK, Norway, and Australia. Loneliness was measured with the de Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale. Multiple linear regression was used in the analysis of associations between variables. The results showed that concerns about finances were more strongly associated with social loneliness, while concerns about the future was more strongly associated with emotional loneliness. Longer daily time spent on social media was associated with higher emotional loneliness. In conclusion, pandemic-related concerns seem to affect perceptions of loneliness. While social media can be used productively to maintain relationships, and thereby prevent loneliness, excessive use may be counterproductive. Keywords: concerns; coronavirus; cross-national study; pandemic; social distancing; social media
AB - COVID-19 has been a global healthcare concern impacting multiple aspects of individual and community wellness. As one moves forward with different methods to reduce the infection and mortality rates, it is critical to continue to study the impact that national and local “social distancing” policies have on the daily lives of individuals. The aim of this study was to examine loneliness in relation to risk assessment, measures taken against risks, concerns, and social media use, while adjusting for sociodemographic variables. The cross-sectional study collected data from 3474 individuals from the USA, the UK, Norway, and Australia. Loneliness was measured with the de Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale. Multiple linear regression was used in the analysis of associations between variables. The results showed that concerns about finances were more strongly associated with social loneliness, while concerns about the future was more strongly associated with emotional loneliness. Longer daily time spent on social media was associated with higher emotional loneliness. In conclusion, pandemic-related concerns seem to affect perceptions of loneliness. While social media can be used productively to maintain relationships, and thereby prevent loneliness, excessive use may be counterproductive. Keywords: concerns; coronavirus; cross-national study; pandemic; social distancing; social media
KW - Concerns
KW - Coronavirus
KW - Cross-national study
KW - Pandemic
KW - Social distancing
KW - Social media
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85102108181&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/ijerph18062841
DO - 10.3390/ijerph18062841
M3 - Article
VL - 18
JO - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
JF - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
SN - 1661-7827
IS - 6
M1 - 2841
ER -