Psychosocial Effects and Use of Communication Technologies during Home Confinement in the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy and The Netherlands

Abstract

(1) Background: The COVID-19 pandemic forced people from all around the globe to strongly modify their daily routines, putting a significant strain on the social aspects of daily lives. While the first wave of the pandemic was a very challenging time in all countries, it is still uncertain whether various lockdown intensities and infection rates differed regarding their psychosocial impact. This work therefore aimed to investigate (i) the psychosocial effects of home confinement in two European countries that underwent different lockdown intensities: Italy and the Netherlands and (ii) the role of communication technology in relation to feelings of loneliness. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional online survey inquiring about different psychosocial variables and the use of and satisfaction towards communication technology was circulated among the general public during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. In total, 629 participants (66% female, 68% from the Netherlands) answered each question twice, referring to “before” and “during” the pandemic. (3) Results: We found significant negative effects of COVID-19 home confinement on depressive feelings (p < 0.001, %∆ = +54%), loneliness (p < 0.001, %∆ = +37.3%), life satisfaction (p < 0.001, %∆ = −19.8%) and mental wellbeing (p < 0.001, %∆ = −10.6%) which were accompanied with a significantly increased need for psychosocial support (p < 0.001, %∆ = +17.3%). However, the magnitude of psychosocial impact did not significantly differ between residents undergoing a more intense (Italy) versus a less intense (Netherlands) lockdown, although the decrease in social participation was found to be significantly different for both countries (z = −7.714, p < 0.001). Furthermore, our findings demonstrate that the increase in loneliness was associated with the adoption of new digital communication tools (r = 0.21, p < 0.001), and significantly higher for individuals who started to adopt at least one new digital communication tool during confinement than for those who did not (z = −4.252, p < 0.001). (4) Conclusions: This study highlights that, although COVID-19 home confinement significantly impacted psychosocial wellbeing during the first wave of the pandemic, this impact did not differ based on lockdown intensity. Recognizing the increasing adoption of digital communication technology in an attempt to reduce lockdown loneliness, future studies should investigate what is needed from the technology to achieve this effect.

Association of Visual Display Terminal Usage with Self-Rated Health and Psychological Distress among Japanese Office Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…The difference in the association between work and non-work usage with psychological distress may be due to the fact that being employed is psychologically beneficial by increasing self-reliance [31], whereas non-work VDT usage has little psychological value. During the COVID-19 pandemic, physical distancing makes VDTs a means of social interaction [32], which is proven to be associated with improved physical and psychological health [33]. However, in our study, VDT usage for non-work activities was not associated with psychological distress, and there was a potential negative linear association.…”

Work-Related Stress of Work from Home with Housemates Based on Residential Types

“…They clarified that while new ways of working can help workers’ engagement, work-related flow, and connectivity among staff, new ways of working can also increasing the blurring of work–home boundaries, fatigue, and mental demands. Bastoni et al [ 25 ] revealed that the increase in loneliness was associated with the adoption of new digital communication tools, and was significantly higher for individuals who started to adopt at least one new digital communication tool during confinement than for those who did not. In a web-based survey of Spanish households during the spring 2020 lockdown, Cuerdo-Vilches et al [ 26 ] showed that the adequacy of telework environment spaces was insufficient for more than a quarter of the homes.…”

Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Satisfaction With Life of University Students in Qatar: Changes During Confinement Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Furthermore, COVID-19-related home confinement significantly and deleteriously altered sleep quality and PA levels in a large global sample of people ( Trabelsi et al, 2021 ). The study of Bastoni et al (2021) highlights COVID-19 home confinement in Europe significantly impacted psychosocial wellbeing during the first wave of the pandemic, despite different lockdown intensities.…”