results

Social Interactions vs. Mental Health

• A study published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships suggests that the decrease in social interaction due to the distancing of the coronavirus pandemic resulted in higher rates of loneliness and depression.

• During the pandemic, social distancing was detrimental to social lives and one’s mental health

• "Researcher Adam Kuczynski and his colleagues sought to 'identify the components of daily social interactions that are associated with changes in depressed mood and loneliness'"

• Adult samples from King County, Washington were recruited by social media ads, flyers at grocery stores, and local news stores

• Total of 515 adult participants, daily surveys for 75 days in a row, at 7:30 nightly

• The research completed measures on depression, loneliness, social interaction quantity, perceived responsiveness, and vulnerable self-disclosure

• Results showed that individuals who partake in more social interactions, have more self-disclosures, and feel people are being more responsive to them show lower levels of depression and loneliness