The effects of social interactions on momentary stress and mood during COVID‐19 lockdowns

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Social interactions are vital for our wellbeing, particularly during times of stress. However, previous studies linking social interactions to psychological outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic have largely been retrospective and/or cross-sectional. Thus, we tested four preregistered hypotheses (H1-H4) concerning the real-time effect of social interactions on momentary changes in stress and mood during two COVID-19 lockdowns. DESIGN:We used an ecological momentary assessment approach in 732 participants in spring 2020 and in a subsample of these participants (n= 281) during a further lockdown in autumn/winter 2020. METHODS: Participants reported their stress and mood in a smartphone app five times per day for seven days and indicated the nature and frequency of their recent social interactions. RESULTS: Social interactions (H1) and their frequency (H2) improved momentary affect. This was particularly the case for face-to-face interactions which, compared to other types of interactions, reduced momentary stress and boosted mood across both lockdowns, even when controlling for the pleasantness of the interaction and the closeness of the interaction partner (H3). We also show that individual differences in people's responsiveness to different social rewards modulated the impact of social interactions on momentary mood (H4). CONCLUSIONS: This study extends findings from cross-sectional and retrospective studies by highlighting the real-time affective benefits of social interactions during COVID-19 lockdown. The results have important implications for the (self-) management of stress and mood during psychologically demanding periods.

Dynamics of Social Experiences in the Context of Extended Lockdown

“…This finding suggests that social interactions may be most linked with subjective interpretations of our social state when they are most salient and necessary—when the social landscape is restricted by factors outside of people’s control. This finding complements other research that identifies mental health benefits to staying socially connected while physically isolated (Forbes et al, 2022; Nitschke et al, 2021; Sommerlad et al, 2022).…”

“…Alternatively, lockdown may exacerbate the impact of having social interactions on loneliness (Kuczynski et al, 2022), such that people benefit from social interaction most when they are isolated from others. Indeed, research points to the importance of staying socially connected while physically isolating: social interaction quantity and quality have been shown to predict better mental health outcomes during COVID-19 (Forbes et al, 2022; Nitschke et al, 2021; Sommerlad et al, 2022).…”

Using Ecological Momentary Assessments to Study How Daily Fluctuations in Psychological States Impact Stress, Well-Being, and Health

“…Finally, during COVID-19 lockdowns, one study [ 45 ] used EMA methods to investigate the impact of face-to-face social interactions on mood and stress in real time and found that having at least one social interaction preceding an assessment predicted a more positive mood, more calmness, heightened energetic arousal, and reduced stress compared to assessments when no social interactions were reported. These within-person effects persisted even while controlling for peoples’ moods and stress levels reported in the prior assessment, indicating that social interaction, and not pre-existing psychological states, were driving these effects.…”

Using Ecological Momentary Assessments to Understand How Daily Fluctuations in Psychological States Impact Stress, Well-Being, and Health

“…Likewise, by assessing participants three times per day for six days, researchers found that people felt more happiness and interest, and less sadness, tiredness, and pain, during assessments taken when they were engaged in a social interaction versus those taken when they were alone [44]. Finally, during COVID-19 lockdowns, [45] used EMA methods to investigate the impact of face-to-face social interactions on mood and stress in real-time and found that having at least one social interaction preceding an assessment predicted more positive mood, more calmness, heightened energetic arousal, and reduced stress compared to assessments when no social interactions were reported. These within-person effects persisted even while controlling for people's mood and stress levels reported in the previous assessment, indicating that social interaction, and not pre-existing psychological states, were driving these effects.…”