The impact of social isolation on HPA axis function, anxiety-like behaviors, and ethanol drinking

Humans are social animals; consequently, a lack of social ties affects individuals’ health negatively. However, the desire to belong differs between individuals, raising the question of whether individual differences in the need to belong moderate the impact of perceived social isolation on health. In the present study, 77 first-year university students rated their loneliness and health every 6 weeks for 18 weeks. Individual differences in the need to belong were found to moderate the relationship between loneliness and current health state. Specifically, lonely students with a high need to belong reported more days of illness than those with a low need to belong. In contrast, the strength of the need to belong had no effect on students who did not feel lonely. Thus, people who have a strong need to belong appear to suffer from loneliness and become ill more often, whereas people with a weak need to belong appear to stand loneliness better and are comparatively healthy. The study implies that social isolation does not impact all individuals identically; instead, the fit between the social situation and an individual’s need appears to be crucial for an individual’s functioning.

Download Full-text

An influence of social isolation on the level of physical activity as well as on well-being and mental state of people during the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic

Polish Journal of Public Health ◽

10.2478/pjph-2019-0029 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 129 (4) ◽

pp. 127-131

Author(s):

Agnieszka Parfin ◽

Krystian Wdowiak ◽

Marzena Furtak-Niczyporuk ◽

Jolanta Herda

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Small Sample Size ◽

Statistical Tests ◽

Population Group ◽

Well Being ◽

Small Sample ◽

Subjective Well Being ◽

Tract Infections ◽

The Impact

AbstractIntroduction. The COVID-19 is the name of an infectious disease caused by a new strain of coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2). It was first diagnosed in December 2019 in patients in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. The symptoms are dominated by features of respiratory tract infections, in some patients with a very severe course leading to respiratory failure and, in extreme cases to death. Due to the spread of the infection worldwide, the WHO declared a pandemic in March 2020.Aim. An investigation of the impact of social isolation introduced due to the coronavirus pandemic on selected aspects of life. The researchers focused on observing changes in habits related to physical activity and their connections with people’s subjective well-being and emotional state.Material and methods. The study was carried out within the international project of the group „IRG on COVID and exercise”. The research tool was a standardized questionnaire.Results. Based on the data collected and the analysis of the percentage results, it can be observed that the overwhelming majority of people taking up physical activity reported a better mood during the pandemic. However, statistical tests do not confirm these relationships due to the small sample size.Conclusions. Isolation favours physical activity. Future, in-depth studies, by enlarging the population group, are necessary to confirm the above observations.

Download Full-text

Study the Impact of COVID-19 on Twitter Users with respect to Social Isolation

2020 Seventh International Conference on Social Networks Analysis, Management and Security (SNAMS) ◽

10.1109/snams52053.2020.9336548 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Simranpreet Kaur ◽

Pallavi Kaul ◽

Pooya Moradian Zadeh

Keyword(s):

Social Isolation ◽

Twitter Users ◽

The Impact

Download Full-text

How is the COVID-19 lockdown impacting the mental health of parents of school-age children in the UK? A cross-sectional online survey

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-043397 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. e043397

Author(s):

Austen El-Osta ◽

Aos Alaa ◽

Iman Webber ◽

Eva Riboli Sasco ◽

Emmanouil Bagkeris ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Online Survey ◽

Female Gender ◽

School Age Children ◽

School Age ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Uk ◽

The Impact

ObjectiveInvestigate the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on feelings of loneliness and social isolation in parents of school-age children.DesignCross-sectional online survey of parents of primary and secondary school-age children.SettingCommunity setting.Participants1214 parents of school-age children in the UK.MethodsAn online survey explored the impact of lockdown on the mental health of parents with school-age children, and in particular about feelings of social isolation and loneliness. Associations between the UCLA Three-Item Loneliness Scale (UCLATILS), the Direct Measure of Loneliness (DMOL) and the characteristics of the study participants were assessed using ordinal logistic regression models.Main outcome measuresSelf-reported measures of social isolation and loneliness using UCLATILS and DMOL.ResultsHalf of respondents felt they lacked companionship, 45% had feelings of being left out, 58% felt isolated and 46% felt lonely during the first 100 days of lockdown. The factors that were associated with higher levels of loneliness on UCLATILS were female gender, parenting a child with special needs, lack of a dedicated space for distance learning, disruption of sleep patterns and low levels of physical activity during the lockdown. Factors associated with a higher DMOL were female gender, single parenting, parenting a child with special needs, unemployment, low physical activity, lack of a dedicated study space and disruption of sleep patterns during the lockdown.ConclusionsThe COVID-19 lockdown has increased feelings of social isolation and loneliness among parents of school-age children. The sustained adoption of two modifiable health-seeking lifestyle behaviours (increased levels of physical activity and the maintenance of good sleep hygiene practices) wmay help reduce feelings of social isolation and loneliness during lockdown.

Download Full-text

“I Spent Most of Freshers in my Room”—A Qualitative Study of the Social Experiences of University Students on the Autistic Spectrum

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders ◽

10.1007/s10803-021-05125-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Helen Goddard ◽

Anna Cook

Keyword(s):

University Students ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Social Life ◽

Social Experiences ◽

Mental Wellbeing ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Social Lives ◽

Social Events ◽

University Life ◽

The Impact

AbstractAutistic university students face extra challenges in both their academic and social life. Barriers to socialising appear to be less well understood and supported by universities than academic requirements. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten autistic university students to explore their social experiences. Questions explored their social experiences, satisfaction with social life, disclosure of ASD to others, and the impact of mental wellbeing on university life. Thematic analysis indicated most participants were unsatisfied with their social lives and experienced mental health issues. Factors exacerbating social isolation included lack of suitable social events, lack of social support and feeling unable to disclose to peers. Factors which reduced social isolation included joining an autism or special interest society and receiving social mentoring.

Download Full-text

Eating habits of children and adolescents during the COVID‐19 pandemic: the impact of social isolation

Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics ◽

10.1111/jhn.12901 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Michelle Teixeira Teixeira ◽

Raquel Santiago Vitorino ◽

Julia Holandino da Silva ◽

Letícia Martins Raposo ◽

Luana Azevedo de Aquino ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Children And Adolescents ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Eating Habits ◽

The Impact

Download Full-text

Covid-19 and Korean Buddhism: Assessing the Impact of South Korea’s Coronavirus Epidemic on the Future of Its Buddhist Community

Religions ◽

10.3390/rel12030147 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (3) ◽

pp. 147

Author(s):

Cheonghwan Park ◽

Kyungrae Kim

Keyword(s):

Social Isolation ◽

Positive Emotions ◽

Public Image ◽

Financial Difficulties ◽

Korean Buddhism ◽

Protestant Christianity ◽

Social Media Platforms ◽

The Many ◽

The Impact ◽

Religious Landscape

While the Covid-19 pandemic has altered many aspects of life in South Korea over 2020, its impact on South Korea’s religious landscape has been enormous as the country’s three major religions (Catholicism, Buddhism, and Protestant Christianity) have suffered considerable loses in both their income and membership. Despite these challenges, however, Buddhism’s public image has actually improved since the start of the epidemic due to the rapid and proactive responses of the nation’s largest Buddhist organization, the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism (K. Daehan bulgyo jogyejong). This article critically examines the Jogye Order’s response to the epidemic and its impact on the order thus far, along with discussions regarding the order’s future. In particular it will examine the results of three conferences held by the order in response to the epidemic and the resulting recommendations on how Korean Buddhism should adapt to effectively address the many challenges brought by the pandemic. These recommendations include establishing an online Buddhist education system, further engaging the order’s lay supporters through various social media platforms, upgrading the current lay education program with virtual learning options that directly address problems faced by the general public during the pandemic, and distributing virtual meditation classes world-wide for those who remain in quarantine or social isolation. By adopting these changes, the Jogye Order will be able to play a crucial role in promoting mental stability and the cultivation of positive emotions among the many suffering from anxiety, social isolation and financial difficulties during the pandemic.

Download Full-text