Abstract

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, striking public health measures have been implemented to encourage physical distancing in order to slow the spread of disease. However, the impact of these measures on health and wellbeing is not well understood. In the current study a daily diary methodology was used to investigate the effects of social isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic on a variety of outcomes with 230 undergraduate students. Participants completed an online diary for 3 days, reporting on daily social distancing behaviors, psychological wellbeing/resources, social/interpersonal connection with others, health behaviors, and health outcomes. Overall, daily social distancing (close adherence to social distancing guidelines) was associated with decreases in psychological wellbeing/resources, less social/interpersonal connection with others (including technology-mediated communication), fewer positive health behaviors, and increased reports of stress-related physical illness symptoms. Discussion centers on implications of these findings as well as the importance of identifying ways to mitigate the effects of these necessary but costly measures on health and wellbeing.

摘要

在COVID-19大流行的背景下，采取了醒目的公共卫生措施来鼓励身体疏远，以减缓疾病的传播。但是，人们对这些措施对健康和福祉的影响知之甚少。在当前的研究中，每天使用日记方法研究230名大学生因COVID-19大流行而导致的社会孤立对各种结局的影响。参与者完成了为期3天的在线日记，报告了日常的社交距离行为，心理健康/资源，与他人的社交/人际关系，健康行为和健康结果。总体而言，每天的社交距离（严格遵守社交距离准则）与心理健康/资源的减少有关，减少与他人的社交/人际关系（包括技术介导的交流），积极的健康行为，以及与压力有关的身体疾病症状的报告增多。讨论的重点是这些发现的含义以及确定减轻这些必要但昂贵的措施对健康和福祉影响的重要性。