The New York Times (7/8, Abelson) reports research from Harvard, Northeastern, Northwestern, and Rutgers universities shows that levels of social isolation increased sharply last summer “even as the public health crisis in the United States began to abate,” suggesting “recovery from the pandemic may take a long time and could affect people’s view of their relationships over time.” The researchers found feelings of social isolation increased “even though they were seeing more people,” perhaps because “people may have felt they had fewer people to lean on because they remained physically distant from a broad network of acquaintances and friends,” according to sociology professor Mario Small. According to the Times, “The researchers also point to a strong association between social isolation, particularly for those people who said they lacked people they could turn to for emotional support, and moderate or severe depression.”
Related Links:
— “Social isolation in the U.S. rose even as the Covid crisis began to subside, new research shows “Reed Abelson, The New York Times, July 8, 2021