Lippke Sonia, Fischer Marie Annika, Ratz Tiara
Department of Psychology & Methods, Jacobs University Bremen, Bremen, Germany.
Front Psychol. 2021 Feb 2;12:617267. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.617267. eCollection 2021.
Meaningful social interactions and regular physical activity are inversely associated with loneliness. Using a mixed-methods research design employing quantitative and qualitative research approaches, this research aimed to explore loneliness, physical activity, friendship, and experiences relating to the COVID-19 pandemic both prior to and during the pandemic. Quantitative data of (1) = 363 first-year university students assessed in 2018/2019 and of (2) = 175 individuals aged 18-29 years assessed in 2020 were gathered using independent self-administered online surveys. In addition, (3) = 4 students were recruited for semi-structured, qualitative interviews in 2020 during the onset phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Correlation and regression analyses as well as analyses of variance were conducted. Thematic analysis as a qualitative method was used to explore the role physical activity, friendship, and social interactions played in loneliness, particularly in times of social isolation and social distancing. Results revealed associations of varying strength between physical activity and loneliness in 2018/2019 ( = -0.09, ≤ 0.05) and 2020 ( = -0.20, < 0.01). In 2020, = 73 (41.7%) participants felt that their loneliness had increased since the COVID-19 social and physical distancing guidelines were introduced, but this was not associated with a perceived change in physical activity ( = -0.05, > 0.05). Analyses of qualitative data revealed three main themes: (1) the lack of deep friendships at university, (2) the positive perceived impact of team sports on feelings of loneliness, and (3) the need for real connection in times of crisis. Thus, with regard to feelings of loneliness during the pandemic, being physically active seems to be a small but potentially relevant factor among young individuals. The qualitative study suggests that first-year university students might buffer the lack of deep friendships and meaningful interactions by building social bonds in team sports. In times of physical distancing, young individuals vulnerable to loneliness may therefore require special support such as doing sports with physical distance and perceiving connected with their team for instance by digital devices and emotional coping.
有意义的社交互动和规律的体育活动与孤独感呈负相关。本研究采用定量和定性研究方法相结合的混合方法研究设计，旨在探讨疫情之前及疫情期间的孤独感、体育活动、友谊以及与新冠疫情相关的经历。通过独立的在线自填式调查问卷收集了两组定量数据：（1）2018/2019年评估的363名大学一年级学生；（2）2020年评估的175名18 - 29岁的个体。此外，在2020年新冠疫情爆发初期，招募了4名学生进行半结构化的定性访谈。进行了相关性分析、回归分析以及方差分析。采用主题分析这一定性方法来探讨体育活动、友谊和社交互动在孤独感中所起的作用，特别是在社会隔离和社交距离时期。结果显示，2018/2019年（r = -0.09，p≤0.05）和2020年（r = -0.20，p < 0.01）体育活动与孤独感之间存在不同强度的关联。2020年，73名（41.7%）参与者认为自新冠疫情社交和身体距离指导方针出台以来，他们的孤独感有所增加，但这与体育活动的感知变化无关（r = -0.05，p > 0.05）。定性数据分析揭示了三个主要主题：（1）大学中缺乏深厚的友谊；（2）团队运动对孤独感的积极感知影响；（3）危机时期对真实联系的需求。因此，对于疫情期间的孤独感而言，进行体育活动似乎是年轻人中一个虽小但可能相关的因素。定性研究表明，大学一年级学生可能通过在团队运动中建立社会联系来缓冲深厚友谊和有意义互动的缺乏。在保持身体距离的时期，易受孤独感影响的年轻人可能因此需要特殊支持，例如进行有身体距离的运动，并通过数字设备和情感应对等方式感知与团队的联系。
