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Loneliness among Middle-Aged and Older Middle-Aged Adults in Russia (Saint Petersburg) before and during COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Olga Strizhitskaya

    (Faculty of Psychology, Saint Petersburg State University, 199034 Saint Petersburg, Russia)

  • Marina Petrash

    (Faculty of Psychology, Saint Petersburg State University, 199034 Saint Petersburg, Russia)

  • Inna Murtazina

    (Faculty of Psychology, Saint Petersburg State University, 199034 Saint Petersburg, Russia)

  • Gayane Vartanyan

    (Faculty of Psychology, Saint Petersburg State University, 199034 Saint Petersburg, Russia)

  • Anton Shchukin

    (Faculty of Psychology, Saint Petersburg State University, 199034 Saint Petersburg, Russia)

Abstract

Loneliness has been considered a major challenge since long before the pandemic. Changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic included modifications in social communications and activities. Thus, it was expected that loneliness would increase during the pandemic. The first studies of loneliness during the pandemic revealed inconsistent results. We hypothesized that physical isolation led to changes in the quality of relationships; thus, loneliness trends could be different from those predicted. For our study we used methods to measure loneliness: the Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale (SELSA-S) for Adults and Older Adults; the Multidimensional Inventory of Loneliness Experience; and demographic data. Participants were middle-aged and older middle-aged adults ( n = 457) aged 35–59 (M = 45.5, SD = 6.88, 35.4% males). Participants came from two studies: Study 1 consisted of 280 participants aged 35–59 (M = 44.8; SD = 6.93; 29.6% males), the study was conducted before the pandemic in late 2019; participants in Study 2 were adults ( n = 177) aged 35–59 (M = 46.5; SD = 6.68; 44.6% males), data were collected in the fall of 2020. The results did not confirm increase in loneliness; moreover, participants reported lower scores of loneliness in some domains. Regression analyses showed that general experience of loneliness was predicted by different loneliness characteristics in pre-pandemic and pandemic age groups. We found some similar mechanisms that were activated within different situations. Our results confirmed the complex nature of loneliness, they argue that pandemic effects were not limited to increase in loneliness and that the mechanism of loneliness can adjust to environmental factors.

Suggested Citation

  • Olga Strizhitskaya & Marina Petrash & Inna Murtazina & Gayane Vartanyan & Anton Shchukin, 2021. "Loneliness among Middle-Aged and Older Middle-Aged Adults in Russia (Saint Petersburg) before and during COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-11, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:18:p:9889-:d:639323
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Peter G van der Velden & Philip Hyland & Carlo Contino & Hans-Martin von Gaudecker & Ruud Muffels & Marcel Das, 2021. "Anxiety and depression symptoms, the recovery from symptoms, and loneliness before and after the COVID-19 outbreak among the general population: Findings from a Dutch population-based longitudinal stu," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(1), pages 1-17, January.
    2. Stefan Stieger & David Lewetz & Viren Swami, 2021. "Emotional Well-Being Under Conditions of Lockdown: An Experience Sampling Study in Austria During the COVID-19 Pandemic," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(6), pages 2703-2720, August.
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