Previous research differentiated between emotional loneliness (perceived lack of emotional connection with others) and social loneliness (perceived lack of a broader social network). We argue that physical loneliness (perceived lack of physical contact) constitutes a third dimension of loneliness that is particularly relevant in times of physical distancing. We conducted a longitudinal experience sampling study (N = 578) during the first 8 weeks of the COVID-19 lockdown in Germany to test this claim. The results indicate that loneliness has a three-dimensional structure encompassing emotional, social and physical loneliness. Each loneliness dimension explained a unique variance in perceived stress and psychological well-being. However, the three loneliness dimensions differed in their prevalence during the contact restrictions and their associations with age and personality. Physical loneliness was higher during the contact restrictions whereas emotional and social loneliness remained on a normal level. Age was positively associated with social loneliness but negatively associated with physical loneliness. Extraversion was negatively associated with emotional and social loneliness but positively associated with physical loneliness. These findings expand loneliness models, enhance loneliness assessment and improve the prediction of vulnerability to loneliness.

中文翻译：

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当孤独的维度分崩离析时：COVID-19 封锁期间的情感、社会和身体孤独及其与年龄、个性、压力和幸福感的关联

先前的研究区分了情感孤独（感觉与他人缺乏情感联系）和社交孤独（感觉缺乏更广泛的社交网络）。我们认为，身体上的孤独（感知到缺乏身体接触）构成了孤独的第三个维度，这在身体疏远的时候尤其重要。我们进行了纵向经验抽样研究（N = 578）在德国 COVID-19 封锁的前 8 周内测试这一说法。结果表明，孤独具有包括情感孤独、社会孤独和身体孤独的三个维度的结构。每个孤独维度都解释了感知压力和心理健康的独特差异。然而，三个孤独维度在接触限制期间的流行程度以及它们与年龄和个性的关联方面存在差异。在接触限制期间，身体上的孤独感较高，而情感和社交上的孤独感则保持在正常水平。年龄与社交孤独感呈正相关，但与身体孤独感呈负相关。外向性与情绪和社交孤独感呈负相关，但与身体孤独感呈正相关。