Institute of Medical Psychology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.
Ruprecht-Karls University Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
Sci Rep. 2022 Sep 5;12(1):15076. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-19224-2.
Loneliness and social isolation have become increasing concerns during COVID-19 lockdown through neuroendocrine stress-reactions, physical and mental health problems. We investigated living situation, relationship status and quality as potential moderators for trait and state loneliness and salivary cortisol levels (hormonal stress-responses) in healthy adults during the first lockdown in Germany. N = 1242 participants (mean age = 36.32, 78% female) filled out an online questionnaire on demographics, trait loneliness and relationship quality. Next, N = 247 (mean age = 32.6, 70% female) completed ecological momentary assessment (EMA), collecting twelve saliva samples on 2 days and simultaneously reporting their momentary loneliness levels. Divorced/widowed showed highest trait loneliness, followed by singles and partnerships. The latter displayed lower momentary loneliness and cortisol levels compared to singles. Relationship satisfaction significantly reduced loneliness levels in participants with a partner and those who were living apart from their partner reported loneliness levels similar to singles living alone. Living alone was associated with higher loneliness levels. Hierarchical linear models revealed a significant cross-level interaction between relationship status and momentary loneliness in predicting cortisol. The results imply that widowhood, being single, living alone and low relationship quality represent risk factors for loneliness and having a partner buffers neuroendocrine stress responses during lockdown.
孤独和社会隔离已成为 COVID-19 封锁期间的关注点，其通过神经内分泌应激反应导致身心健康问题。我们研究了生活状况、关系状况和关系质量作为特质和状态孤独以及健康成年人唾液皮质醇水平（应激激素反应）的潜在调节因素，这些参与者都处于德国首次封锁期间。N=1242 名参与者（平均年龄 36.32，78%为女性）填写了一份关于人口统计学、特质孤独和关系质量的在线问卷。接下来，N=247 名参与者（平均年龄 32.6，70%为女性）完成了生态瞬时评估（EMA），在两天内收集了 12 个唾液样本，并同时报告了他们的瞬时孤独水平。离婚/丧偶者表现出最高的特质孤独，其次是单身者和伴侣。后者与单身者相比，表现出较低的瞬时孤独和皮质醇水平。关系满意度显著降低了有伴侣者的孤独感，而与伴侣分居的参与者报告的孤独感与单身独居者相似。独居与更高的孤独感相关。分层线性模型显示，在预测皮质醇方面，关系状况和瞬时孤独之间存在显著的跨水平交互作用。结果表明，丧偶、单身、独居和低关系质量是孤独的危险因素，而伴侣则可以缓冲封锁期间的神经内分泌应激反应。
