Abstract:
We examine how social contacts and feelings of solidarity shape experiences of loneliness during the COVID-19 lockdown
in early 2020. From the PsyCorona database, we obtained longitudinal data from 23 countries, collected between March
and May 2020. The results demonstrated that although online contacts help to reduce feelings of loneliness, people who
feel more lonely are less likely to use that strategy. Solidarity played only a small role in shaping feelings of loneliness during
lockdown. Thus, it seems we must look beyond the current focus on online contact and solidarity to help people address
feelings of loneliness during lockdown. Finally, online contacts did not function as a substitute for face-to-face contacts
outside the home—in fact, more frequent online contact in earlier weeks predicted more frequent face-to-face contacts in
later weeks. As such, this work provides relevant insights into how individuals manage the impact of restrictions on their
social lives.
