How have people’s daily activities affected mood during the COVID-19 pandemic?

NOVEMBER 17, 2021 - Four times a day for two weeks in mid-2020, 91 young adults living in Poland were asked about their mood and the activities they engaged in. Seven individuals were selected for a follow-up, open-ended questionnaire.

Coping strategies such as planning and scheduling helped participants keep stable routines to maintain a good mood. Also, face-to-face contact was associated with a more positive mood, while similar interaction through electronic communication had a less positive effect.

The researchers also found that daily reports on COVID-19 cases and deaths affected participants’ mood fluctuations, and checking social media and news regarding the pandemic induced negative feelings like sadness, fear, and feelings of being overwhelmed.

“We found that not all aspects of our everyday routines easily translate to online settings. Social demands forced people to spend long hours in front of computer screens during the lockdown period, which is not good for their health nor overall well-being,” said lead author Julian Zubek, PhD, of the University of Warsaw, in Poland.

Full Citation: “Rhythms of the day: How electronic media and daily routines influence mood during COVID-19 pandemic.” Julian Zubek, Karolina Ziembowicz, Marek Pokropski, Paweł Gwiaździński, Michał Denkiewicz, Anna Boros. Appl Psychol Health Well-Being 20211–18 ; Published Online: 16 November 2021 (DOI: 10.1111/aphw.12317).

URL Upon Publication: https://doi.org/10.1111/aphw.12317

Copyright © 2021 The Cochrane Collaboration. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., reproduced with permission.