COVID-19: Technology, social connections, loneliness and leisure activities

This study led by Dr Hannah R. Marston and Dr Sarah Earle, and will use a 65-survey deployed online across mailing lists, and social media platforms to reach as many people as possible.

The aims of the COVID19_Tech study

• Explore technology use, behaviour by citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Explore how citizens use technology to connect with COVID-19 support groups
• Explore how citizens use technology to share information during COVID-19 pandemic
• Explore the health and wellbeing of citizens during COVID-19 relating to loneliness, and digital health literacy
• Explore how sharing information, may differ across different citizens
• Explore the thoughts of citizens relating to a National Emergency Alert system
• Explore the behaviour and narratives of users who are using technology to maintain social connections, build new connections during COVID-19 pandemic

RQ1 – How does technology impact social connections, loneliness, & leisure activities during COVID-19?

Consortium members

Project Lead

Dr Hannah R. Marston – Health and Wellbeing Strategic Research Area (Open University, UK)

Co-leads

1. Dr Sarah Earle – Health and Wellbeing Strategic Research Area (Open University, UK)
2. Dr L. Ivan – National University of Political Studies and Public Administration (SNSPA), Bucharest, Romania.
3. Professor S. Buttigieg – Department of Health Sciences Management, University of Malta.
4. Dr PC Ko – Centre for University Core, Singapore University of Social Science, Singapore.
5. Drs M. Fernández-Ardèvo, D. Blanche Tarragό, A. Rosales Climent, M. Gomez Leon – CN&SC research group, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Spain.
6. Dr V. Gallistl, Hanna Kottl – Department of Sociology, University of Vienna.
7. Professor Ulla Kriebernegg – Age and Care Research Group, University of Graz, Austria.
8. Dr Franziska Großschädl, Gerhilde Schüttengruber – Nursing Science and Age and Care Research Group, Medical University Graz, Austria.
9. Dr Felix Reer & Professor Thorsten Quandt, Department of Communication, University of Munster, Germany.
10. Dr Rubal Kanozia – Department of Mass Communication and Media Studies, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, India.
11. Drs Halime Öztürk Çalıkoğlu, Hasan Arslan, Burcu Bilir – Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Turkey.
12. Dr Paula Alexandra Silva – CISUC | DEI, University of Coimbra, Portugal.
13. Drs Matthew Browning & Iryna Sharaievska – Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism Management (PRTM), Clemson University, USA.

For more information email: [email protected]

Ethics approval

​HREC/3551/MARSTON.

Reimbursement

None.

Funding

This project is not externally funded.

Communications and press releases

• The Open University published ‘First study to assess technology use during COVID-19‘
• Consortium partners at the Open University of Catalonia, Barcelona have published a press release ‘”New normality” and its effects on ICT use‘ in the following languages: English, Catalan, Spanish
• Dr Pei-Chun Ko was interviewed by CNA Singapore Tonight news on Monday 20th July discussing the project aims and objectives. The interview can be watched here
• Blanche, T.D., & Mireia Fernández-Ardèvol (2020). 2020 is the year of (forced) digital sociability. Blog. Open University of Catalonia, Barcelona.

Publications, outputs, and research evidence

1. Marston, H.R., Ivan, L., Fernández-Ardèvol, M., Rosales Climent, A., Gómez-León, M., Blanche, D., Earle, S., Ko, P.C., Colas, S., Bilir, B., Öztürk Çalıkoğl., Arslan, H., Kanozia, R., Kriebernegg, U.,  Großschädl, F., Reer, F., Quandt, T., Buttigieg, S.C., Alexandra Silva, P., Gallistl, V., & Rohner, R. (2020). COVID-19: Technology, Social Connections, Loneliness & Leisure Activities: An International Study Protocol. Front. Sociol; 5:574811. doi: 10.3389/fsoc.2020.574811
2. Marston, H.R., et al., (2020) – Research Evidence#1 LBCO224 – Life beyond COVID. 18th September 2020, COVID-19 Committee. Written evidence (page 11). All evidence is available via this weblink. https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/460/covid19-committee/publications/written-evidence/?page=1

Social media

• Facebook – @Covid19technology

This study has been rolled out across several countries

English: Technology, social connections, loneliness and leisure activities

Principle investigator & Lead: Dr Hannah R. Marston, Health and Wellbeing Strategic Research Area, The Open University. [email protected]

Romania: covid-19: Tehnologie, relații sociale, singurătate & activități de petrecere a timpului liber

Această cercetare este condusă, în Marea Britanie, de Dr. Hannah R. Marston & Dr. Sarah Earle, iar în România, colectarea datelor este condusă de Dr. Loredana Ivan, Facultatea de Comunicare și Relații Publice, SNSPA, București  ([email protected])

Español: Estudio sobre tecnología digital, conexiones sociales, soledad y actividades de ocio

Esta investigación la desarrolla el grupo de investigación CNSC de la Universitat Oberta de Catalunya  bajo la coordinación de la Dra. Mireia Fernández-Ardèvol. Si tiene alguna pregunta sobre el proyecto de investigación puede contactar con ella por correo electrónico: [email protected]

Català: Estudi sobre tecnologia digital, connexions socials, solitud i activitats d’oci

Aquesta recerca la desenvolupa el grup de recerca CNSC de la Universitat Oberta de Catalunya sota la coordinació de la Dra. Mireia Fernández-Ardèvol. Si teniu alguna pregunta sobre el projecte de recerca podeu contactar amb ella per correu electrònic: [email protected]

COVID-19: Technologies, relations sociales, solitude & loisirs

Vous pouvez également contacter la coordinatrice nationale de l’étude à l’adresse mail suivante: [email protected]

2019 冠状病毒下的数码科技使用、社会链结、孤独感与休閒活动之研究

或是此研究的新加坡合作者 柯佩均博士（[email protected]) 新跃社科大学 Singapore University of Social Sciences (可使用中文）

COVID-19: Technologie, soziale kontakte, einsamkeit & freizeitaktivitäten!

Deutschland: Für weitere Informationen wenden Sie sich bitte an Dr. Felix Reer ([email protected]), Universität Münster, Institut für Kommunikationswissenschaft.

Österreich: Für weitere Informationen zur Befragung in Österreich wenden Sie sich bitte an Frau PD Dr. Franziska Großschädl ([email protected]), Medizinische Universität Graz (https://www.medunigraz.at) und Age and Care Research Group Graz (http://ageandcare.uni-graz.at)

India (Hindi and English)

Assistant Professor Rubal Kanozia, Department of Mass Communications and Media Studies, Central University of Punjab, City Campus, India. [email protected]

Malta

More For queries or questions please contact the Professor Sandra Butigieg, Head of the Department of Health Services Management, at the University of Malta: [email protected]

COVID-19: Tecnologia, relações sociais, solidão e atividades de lazer (versão português europeu)

Para qualquer dúvida ou questão, por favor contacte a Dra. Paula Alexandra Silva do Departamento de Engenharia Informática, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, da Universidade de Coimbra através do email [email protected]

COVID-19: Teknoloji, sosyal bağlantilar, yalnizlik ve boş zaman etkinlikleri

İletişim: Lütfen sorularınız için e-posta gönderiniz. Dr. Halime Öztürk Çalıkoğlu [email protected] Dr. Burcu Bilir [email protected]