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. 2023;24(2):745-767.
doi: 10.1007/s10902-022-00614-2. Epub 2023 Jan 11.

Paradoxical Impacts of Social Relationship on Well-Being During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Seojin Stacey Lee  1 , Yerin Shim  2 , Jongan Choi  3 , Incheol Choi  1   4
Affiliations

Paradoxical Impacts of Social Relationship on Well-Being During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Seojin Stacey Lee et al. J Happiness Stud. 2023.

Abstract

Social interaction is an important source of psychological and physical well-being during normal times. However, following the COVID-19 outbreak, which spreads rapidly from person to person, social interaction poses a fatal threat to one's health and life. Therefore, several countries including South Korea implemented an intense social distancing mandate to prevent the spread of the virus. During these unique times of pandemic, the current research investigated whether and how an individual's well-being varies as a function of their interaction with various relationship partners using experience sampling data (Study 1) and online longitudinal data (Study 2). The results indicated that being alone was more detrimental to well-being during the pandemic than before it. Specifically, interaction with close relationship partners (e.g., romantic partner, spouse, or friend) was positively related to well-being, whereas interaction with formal relationship partners (e.g., coworker, boss) was negatively linked to momentary well-being during the pandemic. Furthermore, our study showed that the association between social supports from close relationships and well-being was temporally strengthened during COVID-19 pandemic. In sum, the benefits of close relationships on well-being were stronger during the COVID-19 pandemic than before it.

Keywords: COVID-19; Experience sampling; Social interaction; Well-being.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of InterestThe authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Coefficients of close vs. formal relationships on well-being before and during the COVID-19 period. Note. The black and grey bars indicate 2020 and 2017, respectively. The numbers along the y-axis refer to unstandardized coefficients
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Coefficients of interaction partners on well-being before and during the COVID-19 period. Note. The black and grey bars indicate 2020 and 2017, respectively. The numbers along the x-axis refer to the impacts of interaction with others on well-being (values of unstandardized coefficients). Interaction partners are ordered alphabetically
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