Constructing personal networks in light of COVID-19 containment measures

Abstract

The policies for containing the spread of the SARS-CoV2 virus include a number of measures aimed at reducing physical contacts. In this paper, we explore the potential impact of such containment measures on social relations of both young adults and the elderly in Italy. We propose two ego-centered network definitions accounting for physical distance in light of the COVID-19 containment measures: the easy-to-reach network, that represents an accessible source of support that can be activate in case of new lockdown; the accustomed-to-reach network, which includes proximity and habit to meet in person. The approach used for constructing personal (ego-centered) networks on data from the most recent release of Families and Social Subject survey allows us to bring to the foreground people exposed to relational vulnerability. The analysis of the most vulnerable individuals by age, gender, and place of residence reveals that living alone is often associated with a condition of relational vulnerability for both the elderly and for young adults.

The COVID-19 Pandemic, Social Ties, and Psychosocial Well-Being of Middle-Aged Women in Rural Africa

“…In high-income contexts, studies have argued that lockdown measures and related restrictions increased depression, anxiety, and loneliness (Dahlberg 2021;Killgore et al 2020;O'Donnell et al 2022;Prati and Mancini 2021), and these trends were especially pronounced among older adults (Dahlberg 2021;Krendl and Perry 2020;van Tilburg et al 2020) and among women (Fiorenzato et al 2021). Some research in high-income contexts has also looked at the at pandemic-related "relational vulnerability" (Furfaro et al 2021), as much of the mental health impact of the pandemic is linked to social detachment and isolation (Douglas et al 2020). Yet it has been also argued that the pandemic has had conflicting and countervailing effects on social relations, causing both disruption and cohesion (Gauthier et al 2020;Gupta et al 2021).…”

“…Some research in high-income contexts has also looked at the at pandemic-related “relational vulnerability” ( Furfaro et al 2021 ), as much of the mental health impact of the pandemic is linked to social detachment and isolation ( Douglas et al 2020 ). Yet it has been also argued that the pandemic has had conflicting and countervailing effects on social relations, causing both disruption and cohesion ( Gauthier et al 2020 ; Gupta et al 2021 ).…”

COVID-19 and relationship quality: Emotional, paid work and organizational spheres

“…In addition to micro-level moderation effects (gender in particular), meso-level effects also play a pivotal role in relationship quality (Furfaro et al, 2021). For instance, the lack of social support (e.g., by friends or family members, excluding the partner) during the pandemic may have triggered or exacerbated depressive symptoms and feelings of loneliness that could impede positive relationship adaptation after the pandemic is over (Saltzman et al, 2020).…”