Curiosity for information predicts wellbeing mediated by loneliness during COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic confronted humans with high uncertainty and lockdowns, which severely disrupted people’s daily social and health lifestyles, enhanced loneliness, and reduced well-being. Curiosity and information-seeking are central to behavior, fostering well-being and adaptation in changing environments. They may be particularly important to maintain well-being during the pandemic. Here, we investigated which motives drive information-seeking, and whether and how curiosity and information-seeking related to well-being and mood (excitement, anxiety). Additionally, we tested whether daily diet contributed to this relationship during lockdown. Participants (N = 183) completed questionnaires measuring curiosity, information-seeking, social and mental health. Using a smartphone app, participants submitted their daily food intake and lifestyle ratings for a week. We found participants had highest motivation to seek positive (vs. negative) information, concerning themselves more than others. Both trait curiosity and information-seeking predicted higher well-being, mediated by loneliness. Trait curiosity also predicted well-being and excitement days later. Considering diet, participants with lower trait curiosity ate food containing more tyrosine (i.e., dopamine precursor). Furthermore, participants consuming food high in sugar reported higher anxiety, which was specifically found in participants with relatively low, but not high, trait curiosity. Taken together, curiosity and information-seeking may benefit well-being and mood in high uncertain and challenging times, by interacting with lifestyle measures (loneliness and nutrition).

Psychotic-like experiences in the lonely predict conspiratorial beliefs and are associated with the diet during COVID-19

“…Based on previous studies on schizophrenia ( 40 ), we also examined whether food intake indexed by certain nutrient compositions (e.g., carbs, fat, fruit, and vegetables) is associated with CAPE. More in details, high total intake of fruit and vegetables has been associated with better mental health ( 22 , 41 , 42 ). In line with this evidence, several studies reported a negative association between dietary intake of fruits and vegetables and the presence of psychosis ( 40 , 41 , 43 – 45 ).…”

“…Regarding the dopaminergic precursor tyrosine and the serotoninergic precursor tryptophan, studies have reported their crucial role in motivation and mood, respectively. For example, it has been shown that acute tyrosine and tryptophan depletions can reduce motivation for reward and lower mood ( 22 , 37 , 51 , 52 ). Simultaneously, dopamine and serotonin play an important role in psychosis ( 53 , 54 ).…”

“…We also previously collected (10 November–23 December 2020) from the same participants, as a part of a larger study (preregistered under), 1 a daily diary of their food consumption. In particular, participants were asked to install a food-diary app provided by us on their smartphone, and submit their daily intake of food items and beverages in the app, from which we extracted the total calories, and the macro- and micronutrients per meal per day ( 22 ) (see Figure 1 ).…”

“…Furthermore, we extracted daily energy derived from each macronutrient. In particular, the daily intake of carbohydrates (g/day) was multiplied by 4 kcal, while fat intake by 9 kcal ( 22 ). Lastly, tyrosine and tryptophan to large neutral amino acids (LNAA) ratios were calculated by dividing the quantity of tyrosine and of tryptophan by the sum of the other LNAAs ( 22 , 37 , 38 ).…”

Prosociality predicts changes in leisure activities during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…In contrast, Neuroticism is negatively related to these measures ( Aschwanden et al, 2021 ; Kekäläinen et al, 2021 ; Kaspar and Nordmeyer, 2022 ; Moore et al, 2022 ; Otterbring and Festila, 2022 ). Additionally, previous studies have demonstrated the significant influence of the following personality traits, including aversion to infection ( Stangier et al, 2021 ), self-control ( Rodriguez et al, 2023 ), internal and external locus of control ( Krampe et al, 2021 ), cultural values ( Lu et al, 2021 ), curiosity ( Losecaat Vermeer et al, 2022 ), and optimism ( Sheetal et al, 2020 ) on health-protective behaviors.…”