Women's social experiences before and during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A 3‐part measurement burst study among women in midlife with health risks

Abstract

Women in midlife (ages 40–60) with elevated risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) often rely on social networks during times of high stress. Precautions against the spread of COVID‐19—particularly stay‐at‐home‐orders—could have limited positive social experiences during a stressful time, but also could have reduced unwanted negative social experiences. This report presents findings from an ecological momentary assessment study that used 3 bursts of 5 surveys per day for 5 days, to test for changes in women's social experiences: prior to COVID‐19 (2019), during stay‐at‐home‐orders (April‐May 2020), and during initial reopening (August‐September 2020). Participants were women aged 40–60 with one or more CVD risk factors (e.g., hypertension; N = 35, MAge = 51, MBMI = 32.2 kg/m2). Momentary reports showed that the number of positive interactions experienced in daily life did not significantly change from before to during the pandemic; positive interactions were more variable during stay‐at‐home orders than pre‐COVID, but rebounded by initial reopening (to pre‐COVID levels). In contrast, the number of negative social interactions and social comparisons decreased from before COVID to stay‐at‐home orders, and remained lower during initial reopening; these experiences were also less variable during stay‐at‐home orders and initial reopening than before COVID‐19. Thus, in a vulnerable group of women with health risks, there is little evidence that social experiences worsened during the first 6 months of the COVID‐19 pandemic; decreases in (potentially) negative social experiences may be a small but beneficial side effect of short‐term public health precautions.