Perceived Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Loneliness: The Most Vulnerable Population Groups
COVID-19 pandemic lockdown measures reasonably limited the social contacts of people in many countries. It is crucial to understand the effect of such policies on people’s social ties and the possible need for evidence-based public policy amendments. Therefore, this study examines 1) the prevalence...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Ital Publication
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Emerging Science Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.ijournalse.org/index.php/ESJ/article/view/1809 |
| _version_ | 1797798287136260096 |
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| author | Margarita Gedvilaitė-Kordušienė Sarmitė Mikulionienė |
| author_facet | Margarita Gedvilaitė-Kordušienė Sarmitė Mikulionienė |
| author_sort | Margarita Gedvilaitė-Kordušienė |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | COVID-19 pandemic lockdown measures reasonably limited the social contacts of people in many countries. It is crucial to understand the effect of such policies on people’s social ties and the possible need for evidence-based public policy amendments. Therefore, this study examines 1) the prevalence of loneliness in the population aged 15+ in Lithuania in late 2021 and 2) the self-rated effect of the COVID crisis on loneliness in population groups with different levels of loneliness. It also focuses on the socio-demographic characteristics of these population groups. Data from a representative cross-sectional quantitative survey (N = 1067), carried out in November–December 2021, was used. Based on the 6-item De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale, descriptive statistics analysis revealed the high prevalence (51% of a medium level of loneliness) in the Lithuanian population. One in three people (36%) declared low-level loneliness, and each seventh or eighth (13%) reported high-level loneliness. The feelings of respondents who reported a high level of loneliness were also less stable; they more often stated that their feelings of loneliness increased during the pandemic. These research findings make contributions to studies of loneliness within the context of sudden crises. They emphasise the importance of policymakers focusing on additional measures when preparing for future emergencies and providing special attention to residents who experience the highest levels of loneliness.
Doi: 10.28991/ESJ-2023-SPER-020
Full Text: PDF |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T04:01:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a4de838a53d14b32b4018638c61e25fa |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2610-9182 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T04:01:17Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | Ital Publication |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Emerging Science Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-a4de838a53d14b32b4018638c61e25fa2023-06-21T13:24:50ZengItal PublicationEmerging Science Journal2610-91822023-06-017028129310.28991/ESJ-2023-SPER-020505Perceived Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Loneliness: The Most Vulnerable Population GroupsMargarita Gedvilaitė-Kordušienė0Sarmitė Mikulionienė1Lithuanian Social Research Centre A. Goštauto g. 11, Vilnius LT-01108,Lithuanian Social Research Centre A. Goštauto g. 11, Vilnius LT-01108,COVID-19 pandemic lockdown measures reasonably limited the social contacts of people in many countries. It is crucial to understand the effect of such policies on people’s social ties and the possible need for evidence-based public policy amendments. Therefore, this study examines 1) the prevalence of loneliness in the population aged 15+ in Lithuania in late 2021 and 2) the self-rated effect of the COVID crisis on loneliness in population groups with different levels of loneliness. It also focuses on the socio-demographic characteristics of these population groups. Data from a representative cross-sectional quantitative survey (N = 1067), carried out in November–December 2021, was used. Based on the 6-item De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale, descriptive statistics analysis revealed the high prevalence (51% of a medium level of loneliness) in the Lithuanian population. One in three people (36%) declared low-level loneliness, and each seventh or eighth (13%) reported high-level loneliness. The feelings of respondents who reported a high level of loneliness were also less stable; they more often stated that their feelings of loneliness increased during the pandemic. These research findings make contributions to studies of loneliness within the context of sudden crises. They emphasise the importance of policymakers focusing on additional measures when preparing for future emergencies and providing special attention to residents who experience the highest levels of loneliness. Doi: 10.28991/ESJ-2023-SPER-020 Full Text: PDFhttps://www.ijournalse.org/index.php/ESJ/article/view/1809lonelinesslevels of lonelinessimplications of the covid-19 lockdownquantitative surveylithuania. |
| spellingShingle | Margarita Gedvilaitė-Kordušienė Sarmitė Mikulionienė Perceived Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Loneliness: The Most Vulnerable Population Groups Emerging Science Journal loneliness levels of loneliness implications of the covid-19 lockdown quantitative survey lithuania. |
| title | Perceived Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Loneliness: The Most Vulnerable Population Groups |
| title_full | Perceived Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Loneliness: The Most Vulnerable Population Groups |
| title_fullStr | Perceived Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Loneliness: The Most Vulnerable Population Groups |
| title_full_unstemmed | Perceived Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Loneliness: The Most Vulnerable Population Groups |
| title_short | Perceived Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Loneliness: The Most Vulnerable Population Groups |
| title_sort | perceived effects of the covid 19 pandemic on loneliness the most vulnerable population groups |
| topic | loneliness levels of loneliness implications of the covid-19 lockdown quantitative survey lithuania. |
| url | https://www.ijournalse.org/index.php/ESJ/article/view/1809 |
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