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

Author

Listed:
  • Sofia Bastoni

    (Centre for eHealth and Wellbeing Research, Department of Psychology, Health and Technology, University of Twente, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Christian Wrede

    (Centre for eHealth and Wellbeing Research, Department of Psychology, Health and Technology, University of Twente, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Achraf Ammar

    (Institute of Sport Science, Otto-von-Guericke University, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany
    Interdisciplinary Laboratory in Neurosciences, Physiology and Psychology: Physical Activity, Health and Learning (LINP2), UFR STAPS, UPL, Paris Nanterre University, 92000 Nanterre, France
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Annemarie Braakman-Jansen

    (Centre for eHealth and Wellbeing Research, Department of Psychology, Health and Technology, University of Twente, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands)

  • Robbert Sanderman

    (Centre for eHealth and Wellbeing Research, Department of Psychology, Health and Technology, University of Twente, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands
    Department of Health Psychology, University Medical Center Groningen, 9712 Groningen, The Netherlands)

  • Andrea Gaggioli

    (Department of Psychology, Universitá Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Milan, Italy
    Applied Technology for Neuro-Psychology Lab, I.r.c.c.s. Istituto Auxologico Italiano, 20149 Milan, Italy)

  • Khaled Trabelsi

    (High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, University of Sfax, 3000 Sfax, Tunisia
    Research Laboratory: Education, Motricité, Sport et Santé, EM2S, LR19JS01, High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, University of Sfax, 3000 Sfax, Tunisia)

  • Liwa Masmoudi

    (High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, University of Sfax, 3000 Sfax, Tunisia)

  • Omar Boukhris

    (High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, University of Sfax, 3000 Sfax, Tunisia)

  • Jordan M. Glenn

    (Exercise Science Research Center, Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, NC AR72701, USA)

  • Bassem Bouaziz

    (Multimedia Information Systems and Advanced Computing Laboratory (MIRACL), University of Sfax, 3021 Sfax, Tunisia)

  • Hamdi Chtourou

    (High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, University of Sfax, 3000 Sfax, Tunisia
    Activité Physique, Sport et Santé, UR18JS01, Observatoire National du Sport, 1003 Tunis, Tunisia)

  • Lisette van Gemert-Pijnen

    (Centre for eHealth and Wellbeing Research, Department of Psychology, Health and Technology, University of Twente, 7522 NB Enschede, 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.

Suggested Citation

  • Sofia Bastoni & Christian Wrede & Achraf Ammar & Annemarie Braakman-Jansen & Robbert Sanderman & Andrea Gaggioli & Khaled Trabelsi & Liwa Masmoudi & Omar Boukhris & Jordan M. Glenn & Bassem Bouaziz & , 2021. "Psychosocial Effects and Use of Communication Technologies during Home Confinement in the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy and The Netherlands," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-12, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:5:p:2619-:d:511368
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sarah Dryhurst & Claudia R. Schneider & John Kerr & Alexandra L. J. Freeman & Gabriel Recchia & Anne Marthe van der Bles & David Spiegelhalter & Sander van der Linden, 2020. "Risk perceptions of COVID-19 around the world," Journal of Risk Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(7-8), pages 994-1006, August.
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    3. Antonio Baldassarre & Gabriele Giorgi & Federico Alessio & Lucrezia Ginevra Lulli & Giulio Arcangeli & Nicola Mucci, 2020. "Stigma and Discrimination (SAD) at the Time of the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-29, August.
    4. Ellen Bentlage & Achraf Ammar & Daniella How & Mona Ahmed & Khaled Trabelsi & Hamdi Chtourou & Michael Brach, 2020. "Practical Recommendations for Maintaining Active Lifestyle during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Literature Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-22, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Kokoro Natomi & Haruka Kato & Daisuke Matsushita, 2022. "Work-Related Stress of Work from Home with Housemates Based on Residential Types," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-14, March.
    2. Yu Par Khin & Yusuke Matsuyama & Takahiro Tabuchi & Takeo Fujiwara, 2021. "Association of Visual Display Terminal Usage with Self-Rated Health and Psychological Distress among Japanese Office Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-10, September.
    3. Nazira Calleja & Cecilia Mota, 2022. "Mothers in Lockdown Due to COVID-19 in Mexico: Does Having a Paid Job Make a Difference?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-12, September.

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