Men and loneliness in the Covid-19 pandemic: insights from an interview study with UK-based men
| Autor: | Paul Galdas, John M. Ratcliffe, Mona Kanaan |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2021 |
| Předmět: |
Male
medicine.medical_specialty Sociology and Political Science Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) SARS-CoV-2 Loneliness Health Policy Public health Social distance Public Health Environmental and Occupational Health COVID-19 United Kingdom Social skills Pandemic medicine Humans Anxiety Thematic analysis medicine.symptom Psychology Pandemics Social psychology Qualitative Research Social Sciences (miscellaneous) |
| Popis: | As the SARS-COV-2 pandemic hit, the UK, like many countries, introduced severe restrictions on social contact, and injunctions of ‘social distancing’, to reduce transmission. This led to a concern that loneliness may increase, facilitating poorer mental and physical health. Twenty qualitative interviews were conducted, with a diverse group of UK-based men, between January and March 2021, during severe restrictions. Our aim was to generate new insights into men’s experience of loneliness during the pandemic, and consider the ramifications of these for continued/future restrictions, the easing of restrictions, and the future beyond the pandemic. Thematic analysis, focused on semantic themes, was employed as part of a ‘grounded’ epistemology whereby the stated perspectives of the interviewees drove the content of the study. Six themes were constructed: i) people to see and things to do (broken, changed, and new); ii) rethought and renewed recognition of what is important; iii) loneliness with a purpose; iv) loneliness as normal; v) anxiety of social contact; and vi) easier for some than others. The restrictions did cause some loneliness, particularly because of lost routines and opportunities, and the reduction in face-to-face interaction. However, a need to reduce transmission of SARS-COV-2, and a fear of catching it, became important features of participants lives that also affected loneliness and its causes. Remote forms of interaction were often utilised, and though they were imperfect, those that were dependable, were smaller than might be desired in person, and ensured a chance to speak, were constructed as more positive. The fear of Covid-19, and a loss of social skills, may mean that reducing restrictions alone will not return everyone to pre-pandemic levels of loneliness. Some believed the building of supportive local communities, and a destigmatisation of loneliness, may allow for the building of a more compassionate and less lonely society.What is known about this topicLoneliness is a public health concern, and is often a gendered experience.Pandemic related restrictions greatly reduced opportunities for social contact.We have a limited understanding of whether, and how, men experienced loneliness during the SARS-COV-2 pandemic.What this paper addsThe loss of routines, and a lack of face-to-face interaction, were the greatest challenges to loneliness, particularly among solo-living men.Remote interaction may be better when routinised or dependable, in smaller groups, and with a structure facilitating the opportunity to speak.Anxiety of SARS-COV-2, and identities built in relation to reducing transmission, were important influences on the causes and severity of loneliness. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
| Externí odkaz: |
|