Diurnal dynamics of stress and mood during COVID-19 lockdown: a large multinational ecological momentary assessment study

Feneberg, Anja C.; Forbes, Paul; Piperno, Giulio; Pronizius, Ekaterina; Stijovic, Ana; Skoluda, Nadine; Lamm, Claus; Nater, Urs M.; Silani, Giorgia

doi:10.1098/rspb.2021.2480

Cited by 13 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 79 publications

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“…In all analyses, we controlled for whether participants were engaged in free time at the time of the data entry ( free time : 1 = free time, 0 = not free time) and the time of the data entry ( EMA time ). These two variables were included in all models as stress and mood fluctuate across the day and are strongly influenced by whether individuals are working or not (Feneberg Anja et al, 2022 ). EMA time was centred to 10:00 on each day, and all other level‐1 variables were participant‐mean‐centred (Enders & Tofighi, 2007 ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of social interactions on momentary stress and mood during COVID‐19 lockdowns

Forbes

Pronizius

Feneberg

et al. 2022

British J Health Psychol

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OBJECTIVE: Social interactions are vital for our wellbeing, particularly during times of stress. However, previous studies linking social interactions to psychological outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic have largely been retrospective and/or cross-sectional. Thus, we tested four preregistered hypotheses (H1-H4) concerning the real-time effect of social interactions on momentary changes in stress and mood during two COVID-19 lockdowns. DESIGN:We used an ecological momentary assessment approach in 732 participants in spring 2020 and in a subsample of these participants (n= 281) during a further lockdown in autumn/winter 2020. METHODS: Participants reported their stress and mood in a smartphone app five times per day for seven days and indicated the nature and frequency of their recent social interactions. RESULTS: Social interactions (H1) and their frequency (H2) improved momentary affect. This was particularly the case for face-to-face interactions which, compared to other types of interactions, reduced momentary stress and boosted mood across both lockdowns, even when controlling for the pleasantness of the interaction and the closeness of the interaction partner (H3). We also show that individual differences in people's responsiveness to different social rewards modulated the impact of social interactions on momentary mood (H4). CONCLUSIONS: This study extends findings from cross-sectional and retrospective studies by highlighting the real-time affective benefits of social interactions during COVID-19 lockdown. The results have important implications for the (self-) management of stress and mood during psychologically demanding periods.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of social interactions on momentary stress and mood during COVID‐19 lockdowns

Forbes

Pronizius

Feneberg

et al. 2022

British J Health Psychol

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“…Similarly, we included the activity participants were engaged in and the time of day as covariates in all analyses. Thus, the results were not due to participants being more likely to engage in more effortful helping at a particular time of day or during certain activities, both of which influence momentary mood and stress (Feneberg et al, 2022).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

“…The present study is part of a larger project carried out within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic (Feneberg et al, 2022;. The full list of the variables associated with this project can be found here https://osf.io/4tpvd?view_only=f76d533a1ef64b9f9a6f4ce4ba70eaf0 .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Everyday helping is associated with enhanced mood but greater stress when it is more effortful

Forbes¹,

Pronizius²,

Stijovic³

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Our affective states influence whether we help others and after helping we often experience improved affect or reduced stress. One important factor that determines whether we help, and the potential affective consequences of helping, is the amount of effort involved. People are usually less willing to help others if it involves significant effort. In this preregistered study, using an ecological momentary assessment approach in 527 participants, we investigated the affective antecedents and consequences of everyday helping in terms of individuals’ self-reported momentary stress and mood, with a specific focus on the perceived amount of effort involved in helping. Regardless of whether helping was deemed high or low in effort, greater energetic arousal predicted subsequent helping, which suggests we must be sufficiently energised when helping others. Contrary to our preregistered hypothesis, higher perceived stress predicted subsequent high effort, but not low effort, helping. Notably, whereas both low and high effort helping predicted subsequent greater energetic arousal, only low effort helping was associated with greater mood valence compared to not helping at all. Additionally, the greater the effort involved in helping, the greater the increase in stress after helping. Thus, the momentary affective benefits for the helper may be most pronounced when helping is associated with low effort costs. These findings have important implications for how the affective benefits of helping involving different amounts of effort can be used as part of a positive feedback loop that fosters and sustains prosocial behaviour.

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“…Procedure and measures. We used data collected as part of a larger EMA project investigating the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on behavior and well-being (Feneberg et al, 2022; for further explanation, see the preregistration at https://osf.io/6ynt3/). Data were collected during two lockdowns: in April and May 2020 (Burst 1) and in November and December 2020 (Burst 2).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In each model, we included the following variables: type of day, which indicated whether this was a baseline day (0) or a social isolation day (1); free time, a dummy-coded variable that indicated whether participants were engaged in free time at the time of the data entry (0) or whether they were working or studying (i.e., not free time, 1); and EMA time, the time of the assessment centered on participants' first assessment of the day. This was included in all models to control for diurnal changes in stress and mood (Feneberg et al, 2022). Next, to determine the influence on the number of hours spent in isolation on loneliness, desire for social contact, stress, fatigue, and the three mood measures, we included the interaction between type of day and EMA time in the above models.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Homeostatic Regulation of Energetic Arousal During Acute Social Isolation: Evidence From the Lab and the Field

et al. 2023

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Recent evidence suggests that social contact is a basic need governed by a social homeostatic system. Little is known, however, about how conditions of altered social homeostasis affect human psychology and physiology. Here, we investigated the effects of 8 hr of social isolation on psychological and physiological variables and compared this with 8 hr of food deprivation in a lab experiment ( N = 30 adult women). Social isolation led to lowered self-reported energetic arousal and heightened fatigue, comparable with food deprivation. To test whether these findings would extend to a real-life setting, we conducted a preregistered field study during a COVID-19 lockdown ( N = 87 adults; 47 women). The drop in energetic arousal after social isolation observed in the lab replicated in the field study for participants who lived alone or reported high sociability, suggesting that lowered energy could be part of a homeostatic response to the lack of social contact.

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Diurnal dynamics of stress and mood during COVID-19 lockdown: a large multinational ecological momentary assessment study

Cited by 13 publications

References 79 publications

The effects of social interactions on momentary stress and mood during COVID‐19 lockdowns

The effects of social interactions on momentary stress and mood during COVID‐19 lockdowns

Everyday helping is associated with enhanced mood but greater stress when it is more effortful

Homeostatic Regulation of Energetic Arousal During Acute Social Isolation: Evidence From the Lab and the Field

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