The role of social connection on the experience of COVID-19 related post-traumatic growth and stress
Authors: Matos Marcela , McEwan Kirsten , Kanovský Martin , Halamová Júlia , Steindl Stanley R. , Ferreira Nuno , Linharelhos Mariana , Rijo Daniel , Asano Kenichi , Vilas Sara P. , Márquez Margarita G. , Gregório Sónia , Brito-Pons Gonzalo , Lucena-Santos Paola , Oliveira Margareth da Silva , Souza Erika Leonardo de , Llobenes Lorena , Gumiy Natali , Costa Maria Ileana , Habib Noor , Hakem Reham , Khrad Hussain , Alzahrani Ahmad , Cheli Simone , Petrocchi Nicola , Tholouli Elli , Issari Philia , Simos Gregoris , Lunding-Gregersen Vibeke , Elklit Ask , Kolts Russell , Kelly Allison C. , Bortolon Catherine , Delamillieure Pascal , Paucsik Marine , Wahl Julia E. , Zieba Mariusz , Zatorski Mateusz , Komendziński Tomasz , Zhang Shuge , Basran Jaskaran , Kagialis Antonios , Kirby James , Gilbert Paul 
Published: December 2021

Background

Historically social connection has been an important way through which humans have coped with large-scale threatening events. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdowns have deprived people of major sources of social support and coping, with others representing threats. Hence, a major stressor during the pandemic has been a sense of social disconnection and loneliness. This study explores how people’s experience of compassion and feeling socially safe and connected, in contrast to feeling socially disconnected, lonely and fearful of compassion, effects the impact of perceived threat of COVID-19 on post-traumatic growth and post-traumatic stress.

Methods

Adult participants from the general population (N= 4057) across 21 countries worldwide, completed self-report measures of social connection (compassion for self, from others, for others; social safeness), social disconnection (fears of compassion for self, from others, for others; loneliness), perceived threat of COVID-19, post-traumatic growth and traumatic stress.

Results

Perceived threat of COVID-19 predicted increased post-traumatic growth and traumatic stress. Social connection (compassion and social safeness) predicted higher post-traumatic growth and traumatic stress, whereas social disconnection (fears of compassion and loneliness) predicted increased traumatic symptoms only. Social connection heightened the impact of perceived threat of COVID-19 on post-traumatic growth, while social disconnection weakened this impact. Social disconnection magnified the impact of the perceived threat of COVID-19 on traumatic stress. These effects were consistent across all countries.

Conclusions

Social connection is key to how people adapt and cope with the worldwide COVID-19 crisis and may facilitate post-traumatic growth in the context of the threat experienced during the pandemic. In contrast, social disconnection increases vulnerability to develop post-traumatic stress in this threatening context. Public health and Government organizations could implement interventions to foster compassion and feelings of social safeness and reduce experiences of social disconnection, thus promoting growth, resilience and mental wellbeing during and following the pandemic.