Lonely and thinking about the past: the role of time perspectives, Big Five traits and perceived social support in loneliness of young adults during COVID-19 social distancing

Abstract

BackgroundIn the spring of 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Polish government introduced a policy of social distancing. Being apart from one’s social network had the potential to evoke feelings of loneliness. The aim of the study was to find out how time perspectives might contribute to feeling lonely during the social distancing period, controlling for Big Five personality traits and perceived social support.Participants and procedureThe study was online, questionnaire-based and cross-sectional (N = 964) and was conducted among young adults (aged 18-35) at the end of the third week of social distancing in Poland.ResultsThe results suggested that the Past-Negative time perspective remained significant predictor of loneliness when controlling for Big Five traits and perceived social support. Emotional stability, extroversion and perceived social support were also significant predictors of low loneliness.ConclusionsNegative beliefs about the past may contribute to experiencing greater loneliness when being apart from one’s social network.

Remote learning among students with and without reading difficulties during the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic

“…The COVID-19 pandemic has changed numerous areas of social life, including university education. Although studies on coping and the mental state of young adults during the pandemic in Poland are available (Debowska et al, 2020;Gambin et al, 2021;Nowakowska, 2020;Szczepańska & Pietrzyka, 2021), our study was pioneering in terms of focus on students with reading difficulties, who might be differently affected by the pandemic and remote learning due to the character of their difficulties in reading and writing. The issue of computer-assisted learning and online learning in dyslexic students was elaborated previously but in different (nonpandemic) contexts (Pang & Jen, 2018;Perelmutter et al, 2017;Woodfine et al, 2008).…”

Uncertainty, alexithymia, suppression and vulnerability during the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy

“…These findings would be useful to develop interventions based on the evidence that initial psychodiagnostic paths are fundamental in order to distinguish active phenomena from a large number of manifestations. With reference to this last statement, some distinctions are necessary to point out the specific nature of symptoms to be revealed and consequently treated, as in the case of underrated dynamics like solitude (Nowakowska, 2020). The current context indicates that COVID-19 has generated radical uncertainties about the mental health of citizens.…”

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“…In our study, the severity of the respondents' loneliness corresponded to the low and medium levels of the severity of this state. Young adults tend to have a tendency to communicate with peers and to feel part of a group where social interaction skills are developed and tested; the ability to obey collective discipline; the ability to gain authority and occupy the desired status (Nowakowska, 2020). The restrictive measures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, in our opinion, are a factor aggravating and provoking the levels of experience of loneliness, especially social loneliness.…”