Background: Communication via technology is regarded as an effective way of maintaining social connection and helping individuals to cope with the psychological impact of social distancing measures during a pandemic. However, there is little information about which factors have influenced increased use of technology to communicate with others during lockdowns and whether this has changed over time. Objective: The aim of this study is to explore which psychosocial factors (eg, mental health and employment) and pandemic-related factors (eg, shielding and time) influenced an increase in communication via technology during the first lockdown in the United Kingdom. Methods: A cross-sectional, web-based survey was conducted between April and July 2020, examining thoughts, feelings, and behaviors associated with the pandemic, including communicating more using technology (eg, via messaging, phone, or video). We collected sociodemographic information, employment status, mental health service user status, and depression symptoms. We used hierarchical logistic regression to test which factors were associated with communicating more using technology during the lockdown. Results: Participants (N=1464) were on average 41.07 (SD 14.61) years old, and mostly women (n=1141; 77.9%), White (n=1265; 86.4%), and employed (n=1030; 70.4%). Participants reported a mild level of depression (mean 9.43, SD 7.02), and were communicating more using technology (n=1164; 79.5%). The hierarchical regression indicated that people who were employed and experiencing lower levels of depression were more likely to report increased communication using technology during a lockdown period of the COVID-19 pandemic, and over time, men communicated more using technology. Increased use of technology to communicate was related to greater communication and the inability to see others due to the social distancing measures enacted during the lockdown. It was not related to a general increase in technology use during the lockdown. Conclusions: Although most participants reported increased use of technology to communicate during a lockdown period of the COVID-19 pandemic, this was more apparent in the employed and those experiencing low levels of depression. Moving forward, we should continue to monitor groups who may have been excluded from the benefits of support and communication using technology.

中文翻译：

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在 COVID-19 大流行期间影响更多使用技术与他人交流的因素：基于网络的横断面调查研究

背景：通过技术进行交流被认为是维持社会联系和帮助个人应对大流行期间社会疏远措施的心理影响的有效方式。然而，关于哪些因素影响了在封锁期间更多地使用技术与他人交流以及这种情况是否随着时间而改变的信息很少。目标：本研究的目的是探讨在英国第一次封锁期间，哪些心理社会因素（例如，心理健康和就业）和大流行相关因素（例如，屏蔽和时间）影响了通过技术进行交流的增加。方法：2020 年 4 月至 2020 年 7 月期间进行了一项基于网络的横断面调查，调查与大流行相关的想法、感受和行为，包括更多地使用技术（例如，通过消息、电话或视频）进行交流。我们收集了社会人口统计信息、就业状况、心理健康服务用户状况和抑郁症状。我们使用层次逻辑回归来测试哪些因素与锁定期间更多地使用技术进行交流有关。结果：参与者 (N=1464) 平均 41.07 (SD 14.61) 岁，主要是女性 (n=1141; 77.9%)、白人 (n=1265; 86.4%) 和就业者 (n=1030; 70.4%)。参与者报告有轻度抑郁（平均 9.43，SD 7.02），并且更多地使用技术进行交流（n=1164；79.5%）。层次回归表明，在 COVID-19 大流行的封锁期间，有工作且抑郁程度较低的人更有可能报告使用技术进行更多交流，并且随着时间的推移，男性更多地使用技术进行交流。越来越多地使用技术进行交流与更好的交流以及由于锁定期间实施的社会疏远措施而无法看到其他人有关。这与锁定期间技术使用的普遍增加无关。结论：尽管大多数参与者报告说在 COVID-19 大流行的封锁期间更多地使用技术进行交流，但这在就业者和抑郁程度较低的人中更为明显。展望未来，我们应该继续监测那些可能被排除在使用技术支持和交流的好处之外的群体。