The COVID-19 pandemic has had an enormous impact on human activity worldwide, in part due to many governments issuing stay-at-home orders and limiting the types of social interactions in which citizens can engage. Previous research has shown that social isolation can contribute to psychological distress. The impact of increased social isolation on mental health functioning during the COVID-19 crisis, as well as potential mechanisms to buffer this impact, have yet to be investigated. The current study explored the moderating role of psychological flexibility and related constructs on the relationships between social isolation and mental health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cross-sectional data from 278 participants, the majority residing in the United States, were collected during a 3-week period from mid-April to early May 2020 via online survey. A series of hierarchical linear regression analyses indicated statistically significant relationships between social isolation and psychological distress (depression, anxiety, and stress), well-being, and valued living. Psychological inflexibility, intolerance of uncertainty, and emotional suppression significantly moderated these relationships in a number of instances. Greater psychological flexibility and acceptance of difficult experiences appeared to act as a buffer against the negative effects of increased social isolation, while amplifying the benefits of social connectedness. Implications for promoting mental health and buffering against the harmful effects of social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond are discussed.

COVID-19大流行对全世界的人类活动产生了巨大影响，部分原因是许多政府发布了居家定单并限制了公民可以参与的社会互动的类型。先前的研究表明，社会孤立会导致心理困扰。在COVID-19危机期间，日益增加的社会隔离对心理健康功能的影响以及缓解这种影响的潜在机制尚待研究。当前的研究探讨了在COVID-19大流行期间心理柔韧性和相关结构对社会孤立与心理健康结局之间关系的调节作用。来自278名参与者的横截面数据，其中大多数居住在美国，通过在线调查从2020年4月中旬至2020年5月上旬为期3周的时间收集了这些数据。一系列分层线性回归分析表明，社会孤立与心理困扰（抑郁，焦虑和压力），幸福感和有价值的生活之间存在统计学上的显着关系。在许多情况下，心理上的僵硬，不确定性的不容忍和情绪压抑大大缓解了这些关系。更大的心理灵活性和对困难经历的接受看来可以抵制日益增加的社会隔离带来的负面影响，同时扩大了社会联系的益处。讨论了在COVID-19大流行及以后期间促进精神健康和缓冲社会隔离的有害影响的含义。一系列分层线性回归分析表明，社会孤立与心理困扰（抑郁，焦虑和压力），幸福感和有价值的生活之间存在统计学上的显着关系。在许多情况下，心理上的僵硬，不确定性的不容忍和情绪压抑大大缓解了这些关系。更大的心理灵活性和对困难经历的接受看来可以抵制日益增加的社会隔离所带来的负面影响，同时扩大了社会联系的益处。讨论了在COVID-19大流行及以后期间促进精神健康和缓冲社会隔离的有害影响的含义。一系列分层线性回归分析表明，社会孤立与心理困扰（抑郁，焦虑和压力），幸福感和有价值的生活之间存在统计学上的显着关系。在许多情况下，心理上的僵硬，不确定性的不容忍和情绪压抑大大缓解了这些关系。更大的心理灵活性和对困难经历的接受看来可以抵制日益增加的社会隔离带来的负面影响，同时扩大了社会联系的益处。讨论了在COVID-19大流行及以后期间促进精神健康和缓冲社会隔离的有害影响的含义。