Running on Empty: How COVID Has Affected Our Social Skills

“... and then my professor cancelled class!” Suddenly, you snap back into a conversation that you were zoned out of. You lose track of the amount of times this has happened while talking to your friend, but also the volume of occurrences in the past few months. Today’s youth consistently joke about how their social battery ‘dies faster’ now, after COVID-19 lockdowns. Scientists assume that the recent virus has had some negative effect on our abilities to communicate, but it was not until recently that researchers took a deep dive into this fascinating and relevant issue of social skills during times of isolation. One study even found that the novel SARS virus has been linked to issues regarding mental health caused by acts to mitigate viral spread, like social distancing and stay at home orders [1]. As we continue to joke about how social distancing and self isolation has taken a toll on our communication efforts, further evidence surfaces to prove it true. Isolation due to COVID-19 has had several negative effects on the population, but has especially put a strain on our social skills. This article will explore how COVID has impacted the way we communicate and will communicate with others.

Being away from others can impact our state of mind. The lack of social interaction may invite feelings of isolation and loneliness. But, what does it look like on a biopsychosocial level when one experiences prolonged isolation? Scientists have taken a deep dive into discovering what this does to our minds. With lockdown restrictions being enforced across the world, incidences of psychosocial problems, which affect the individual and their social group, have increased [2]. In a survey across US adults in June 2020, “elevated levels of adverse mental health conditions, substance use, and suicidal ideation were reported” [1]. In addition, mass panic, uncertainty, and stress have been on the rise [2]. As the risk of isolation increases, COVID-19 has led to an increase of psychiatric disorders, chronic trauma, and stress [2]. In the same survey, “the prevalence of symptoms of anxiety disorder was approximately three times those reported in the second quarter of 2019 (25.5% versus 8.1%), and prevalence of depressive disorder was approximately four times that reported in the second quarter of 2019 (24.3% versus 6.5%)” [1]. COVID-19 induced lockdowns have led to a variety of both cognitive and mental health issues, even among those who have had no previous psychological problems [3]. In times of stress and disaster, we gravitate towards social situations and rely on close connections. When these attachments are stripped away from us, it becomes detrimental to our mental health. Lockdowns caused by COVID-19 have negatively impacted the global population from young to old [4]. As pandemic induced lockdowns increased and stay-at-home orders were issued, we suddenly became forced to significantly minimize our daily social interactions. Now, we face the unsurprising consequence of mental health issues on the rise in many members of our communities.

The COVID-19 pandemic has not only had severe psychological effects on the population, but there have been social effects as well. What happens to the social skills we have learned and retained when we are forced to cut down face-to-face communication? Scientists have studied what isolation can do to our minds, but also how it can affect our communication abilities. Many researchers realize that social interaction is essential for human beings. One researcher, Kevin Sikali, highlights how feeling insufficiently connected to others can have negative, long lasting effects on our mental health. These effects include youth reporting more anxiety and depressive symptoms [5]. Not only are these interactions integral to the human social experience, but also important for the growth of young people. Avi Wolfman-Arent, another researcher, takes the same developmental perspective and explains that social skills don’t just develop on their own; they develop in situations where one must interact with their peers [6]. Some of the learned skills include sharing, understanding acceptable behavior, and complex problem solving [6]. As school closures become increasingly common and zoom classes become the norm, we are forced to lessen our in-person communication, not only affecting our mental health, but our development as humans. This lack of social interaction affects the ability to foster quality connections, which impacts personal growth [6]. Not only does today’s youth flourish while socializing with others, but they also learn and develop as people. Prolonged periods of isolation leave the basic human need of communication unfulfilled, making our social skills dwindle and regress.

After experiencing one and a half years of the COVID-19 pandemic, many could argue that we are progressing and have the resources necessary to start to feel a sense of normalcy. Scientists have developed several safe and effective coronavirus vaccines, restrictions are being lifted, and we are slowly pushing towards a comfortable lifestyle. With that being said, people from around the world still face physical and mental challenges that will take time and the utilization of many resources to fully heal. Many scientists suggest taking measures to prevent the detrimental effects of loneliness and isolation. Some of these measures include spending more time with family, adding structure to your schedule, and maintaining physical and mental activities [7]. Researchers also agree that we must be aware of our mood and emotions. This awareness can be done by following conscious breathing, meditating, and relying on family members and friends for emotional support [7]. With newfound research regarding COVID-19 lockdowns, community level intervention is needed for the population to recover. One group of researchers explain that given the evidence of adverse psychosocial impact, measures need to be taken to mitigate the effects of confinement on children and adolescents. They urge the population to ensure that children’s basic needs are met during these uncertain times [8]. One possible intervention is using telehealth to provide counseling and support to children and parents at risk [8]. Another intervention method is to regulate the information overload children may be receiving during the pandemic by having regular discussions with children about what they saw or heard [8]. The researchers explain that “early investment in children's health, education, and development have benefits that compound throughout the child’s lifetime, and societies as a whole” [8]. By providing a framework for interventions, we can address and work through the psychological burden of isolation among today’s youth.

Extended periods of isolation caused by COVID-19 lockdowns have had serious negative effects on the population. These periods of loneliness have instigated feelings of mass panic and stress, but have also caused previously healthy members of society to develop long lasting mental health issues [2]. Drastically decreasing contact with others has brought upon a multitude of psychological problems that we now have to face. Additionally, as in-person communication dramatically lessened and online interactions became more common, our social skills became hindered. As the basic need for socialization was left unfulfilled, the development of these skills came to a halt, making social connections somewhat prohibited. In an attempt to assist those mentally affected by the year long pandemic, scientists have shared ways to alleviate the baleful effects of isolation. They have recommended spending more time and being open with loved ones along with keeping in touch with our own emotions and maintaining structure in our everyday lives [7]. Though these periods of isolation have had exceedingly harmful effects on our mental health and well-being, we as a society have the tools to take measures to ease and even prevent these effects.

References:

1. Czeisler, M. E. (2020). Mental Health, Substance Abuse, and Suicidal Ideation During the COVID-19 Pandemic. MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 69. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6932a1. 

2. Banerjee et al. (2020). ‘The Dual Pandemic’ of Suicide and COVID-19: A Biopsychosocial narrative of risks and prevention. Psychiatry Research, 295(2021) 11357, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113577

3. Hand, C. (2021). Lockdown Has Impacted Cognitive Function- but Socializing Again Can Boost It. World Economic Forum, https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/04/lockdown-has-damaged-people-s-cognitive-function-but-socialising-can-bring-it-back/.

4. Bzdok and Dunbar. (2020). The Neurobiology of Social Distance. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 24(2020) 9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2020.05.016

5. Sikali, N. (2020). The dangers of social distancing: How COVID-19 can reshape our social experience. The Journal of Community Psychology, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7461541/

6. Wolfman-Arent, A. (2021). A year without play: Parents and experts worry about the loss of social skills during pandemic. PBS, NPR. https://whyy.org/articles/a-year-without-play-parents-and-experts-worry-about-loss-of-social-skills-during-pandemic/

7. Hwang, T. J. et al. (2020). Loneliness and social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. International Psychogeriatrics, 2020 May, 1-4. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1041610220000988

8. Imran, N et al. (2020). Psychological burden of quarantine in children and adolescents: A rapid systematic review and proposed solutions. Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences, 36(5), 1106-1116. https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.5.3088