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The Impact of Culture-, Health- and Nature-Based Engagement on Mitigating the Adverse Effects of Public Health Restrictions on Wellbeing, Social Connectedness and Loneliness during COVID-19: Quantitative Evidence from a Smaller- and Larger-Scale UK Survey

Author

Listed:
  • Linda J. M. Thomson

    (UCL Arts & Sciences, University College London, London WC1 6BT, UK
    UCL Biosciences, University College London, London WC1 6BT, UK)

  • Neta Spiro

    (Centre for Performance Science, Royal College of Music, London SW7 2BS, UK
    Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK)

  • Aaron Williamon

    (Centre for Performance Science, Royal College of Music, London SW7 2BS, UK
    Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK)

  • Helen J. Chatterjee

    (UCL Arts & Sciences, University College London, London WC1 6BT, UK
    UCL Biosciences, University College London, London WC1 6BT, UK)

Abstract

Numerous UK surveys conducted during COVID-19 examined the pandemic’s detrimental effects on health, and the consequences of lockdown and other public health restrictions on mental health. Some surveys considered specific populations and social inequities exacerbated during COVID-19. Fewer surveys examined the ways in which the adverse effects of public health restrictions, such as lockdown, shielding and social distancing, might be alleviated. Drawing upon self-determination theory, the purpose of the current study was to assess whether culture-, health- and nature-based engagement would mitigate the effects of these restrictions on psychological wellbeing, social connectedness and loneliness. Quantitative data from a smaller-scale survey ( n = 312) and a subset of questions embedded in a larger-scale survey ( n = 3647) were analyzed using univariate and multivariate methods. Frequency of engagement, whether participation was online or offline and with or without other people, and the extent to which type of participation was associated with psychological wellbeing, social connectedness and loneliness were examined. Sports and fitness, gardening and reading occurred frequently in both surveys. For the smaller-scale survey, increases in connectedness and frequency of participation and decreases in loneliness were significantly associated with improved wellbeing, whereas the type of participation and age range were not significant predictors. Outcomes from the smaller-scale survey approximated the larger-scale survey for measures of loneliness, type and frequency of participation and proportion of respondents in each age range. As the frequency of participation was a significant predictor of wellbeing, but the type of participation was not significant, the findings implied that any type of participation in a sufficient quantity would be likely to boost wellbeing.

Suggested Citation

  • Linda J. M. Thomson & Neta Spiro & Aaron Williamon & Helen J. Chatterjee, 2023. "The Impact of Culture-, Health- and Nature-Based Engagement on Mitigating the Adverse Effects of Public Health Restrictions on Wellbeing, Social Connectedness and Loneliness during COVID-19: Quantitat," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(20), pages 1-26, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:20:p:6943-:d:1263353
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Apostolos Davillas & Andrew M Jones, 2021. "The first wave of the COVID‐19 pandemic and its impact on socioeconomic inequality in psychological distress in the UK," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(7), pages 1668-1683, July.
    2. Gao, Xiaoying & Davillas, Apostolos & Jones, Andrew M., 2021. "The COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Impact on Socioeconomic Inequality in Psychological Distress in the UK: An Update," IZA Discussion Papers 14790, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
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