Abstract
BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has led governments worldwide to implement unprecedented response strategies. While crucial to limiting the spread of the virus, “social distancing” may lead to severe psychological consequences, especially in lonely individuals.MethodsWe used cross-sectional (n = 380) and longitudinal (n = 74) designs to investigate the links between loneliness, anxiety, and depression symptoms (ADS) and COVID-19 risk perception and affective response in young adults who implemented social distancing during the first 2 weeks of the state of epidemic threat in Poland.ResultsLoneliness was correlated with ADS and with affective response to COVID-19’s threat to health. However, increased worry about the social isolation and heightened risk perception for financial problems was observed in lonelier individuals. The cross-lagged influence of the initial affective response to COVID-19 on subsequent levels of loneliness was also found.ConclusionThe reciprocal connections between loneliness and COVID-19 response may be of crucial importance for ADS during the COVID-19 crisis.
Highlights
Within 10 months’ time since the first case of the novel coronavirus originating from Wuhan (Hubei, China) has been officially reported, COVID-19 has spread to 214 countries and territories affecting over 35 million individuals and causing over 1,039,000 deaths as of 7th October (Dong et al, 2020)
The current study explored both cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between loneliness, anxiety, and depression symptoms and compliance with recommended precautionary measures in a sample of young adults at two time points: immediately after restrictions were imposed upon population [3 days after the Polish government declared a state of epidemic threat and recommended social distancing (15th March)] and 2 weeks later, when the social distancing strategy was already sanctioned by law (29th March)
The prevalent majority of participants declared using all of the recommended preventive strategies at W1 and Wave 2 (W2) [washing hands and increased personal hygiene: 93% (W1)/93% (W2); avoidance of public places: 87%/92%; avoidance of public transportation: 77/92%; social distancing: 79/91%; leaving house only if necessary: 88/94%]
Summary
Within 10 months’ time since the first case of the novel coronavirus originating from Wuhan (Hubei, China) has been officially reported, COVID-19 has spread to 214 countries and territories affecting over 35 million individuals and causing over 1,039,000 deaths as of 7th October (Dong et al, 2020). Due to the exponential growth of COVID-19 cases observed across most EU countries, strategies aimed at “flattening the curve” by decreasing the number of simultaneous severe COVID-19 cases to a level that is manageable by the healthcare system were implemented at various paces by all EU countries. This includes Poland, which started introducing lockdown-type measures soon after the first death from COVID-19 in Poland. While crucial to limiting the spread of the virus, “social distancing” may lead to severe psychological consequences, especially in lonely individuals
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
