How Did People Cope During the COVID-19 Pandemic? A Structural Topic Modelling Analysis of Free-Text Data From 11,000 United Kingdom Adults

Abstract

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has had substantial impacts on lives across the globe. Job losses have been widespread, and individuals have experienced significant restrictions on their usual activities, including extended isolation from family and friends. While studies suggest population mental health worsened from before the pandemic, not all individuals appear to have experienced poorer mental health. This raises the question of how people managed to cope during the pandemic.MethodsTo understand the coping strategies individuals employed during the COVID-19 pandemic, we used structural topic modelling, a text mining technique, to extract themes from free-text data on coping from over 11,000 UK adults, collected between 14 October and 26 November 2020.ResultsWe identified 16 topics. The most discussed coping strategy was ‘thinking positively’ and involved themes of gratefulness and positivity. Other strategies included engaging in activities and hobbies (such as doing DIY, exercising, walking and spending time in nature), keeping routines, and focusing on one day at a time. Some participants reported more avoidant coping strategies, such as drinking alcohol and binge eating. Coping strategies varied by respondent characteristics including age, personality traits and sociodemographic characteristics and some coping strategies, such as engaging in creative activities, were associated with more positive lockdown experiences.ConclusionA variety of coping strategies were employed by individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. The coping strategy an individual adopted was related to their overall lockdown experiences. This may be useful for helping individuals prepare for future lockdowns or other events resulting in self-isolation.

Who Engaged in Home-Based Arts Activities During the COVID-19 Pandemic? A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Data From 4,731 Adults in the United States

“…In addition to the greater accessibility and availability of home-based arts activities, individuals with existing health problems may have been more likely to use the arts to manage symptoms and cope with stress during the pandemic (Fancourt et al, 2019; Mak et al, 2021). Similarly, people who experienced physical or psychological abuse were more likely to engage in arts or crafts and digital arts activities, which might also be because these individuals were using the arts to cope and regulate their emotional responses to adverse events (Mak et al, 2021; Wright et al, 2021). Digital arts provision may also have removed physical barriers relating to access.…”

“…Spending more time on hobbies such as painting, writing, and other creative activities was associated with reductions in symptoms of depression and anxiety and improvements in life satisfaction during the first lockdown in the United Kingdom (Bu et al, 2021). People have reported using creative activities and consuming media to cope during lockdown, and arts activities helped frontline health and social care professionals to cope with challenges of the pandemic, supporting their mental health (Aughterson et al, 2021; Wright et al, 2021). Given the number of people experiencing distress, depression, anxiety, and loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic (Bu et al, 2020; Holman et al, 2020), arts engagement is an important health behavior for improving the mental health and wellbeing of the population during the pandemic.…”

Positive and negative experiences with the COVID-19 pandemic among lonely and non-lonely populations in Germany

“…Moreover, staying at home during the lockdown enabled people to spend more time with loved ones (i.e., family members that live together in lockdown) (19). Another positive outcome of the unexpected COVID-19 lockdown was more time for hobbies (20). People chose hobbies that can be done in solidarity like spending time in nature and engaging in creative activities (20).…”

“…Another positive outcome of the unexpected COVID-19 lockdown was more time for hobbies (20). People chose hobbies that can be done in solidarity like spending time in nature and engaging in creative activities (20). Finally, working from home has advantages, such as greater work control and an improved work-life balance (21), which may lead to less work-related stress.…”

Respite and connection: Autistic adults’ reflections upon nature and well-being during the Covid-19 pandemic

“…Spending time in nature was one way that people dealt with the challenges of the pandemic, particularly as people were allowed a once-daily bout of outdoor exercise during even the strictest UK lockdowns (e.g. Brown et al, 2021;Office for National Statistics, 2021;Wright et al, 2022). Time in and near nature has well-evidenced associations with improved well-being in children (McCormick, 2017;Vanaken & many autistic adults and children experienced an increase in mental health difficulties during the pandemic (National Health Service, 2020;O'Connor et al, 2020).…”