Taylor, Cheryl, Lafarge, Caroline ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2148-078X, Cahill, Sharon, Milani, Raffaella Margherita ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1683-2410 and Goerzig, Anke (2022) Living through lockdown: a qualitative exploration of individuals’ experiences in the UK. Health and Social Care in the Community. ISSN 0966-0410

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Abstract

In response to the Covid-19 outbreak, the British government introduced a lockdown resulting in country wide restrictions on movement and socialisation. This research sought to explore individuals’ experience of the first lockdown in the UK. A qualitative online survey was conducted between April and June 2020. Using a convenience sample, 29 individuals participated in the study. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Four themes were identified: ‘health and wellbeing’, ‘social connectedness and belonging’, ‘employment and finances’ and ‘personal and collective values’. Participants’ experiences involved both challenges and opportunities. Participants reported challenges to their physical health, mental health, sense of connection to others as well as their employment and finances. However, they also viewed the lockdown as an opportunity to reassess their goals and values, and define a ‘new normal’ for society. Lockdown restrictions threatened individuals’ wellbeing on many aspects of their lives. As anxiety, loneliness and a compromised grieving process may lead to severe mental health issues, early interventions are needed to prevent these and promote wellbeing. Interventions may include traditional therapies (e.g. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), or on developing social networks and social support (e.g. mutual help groups). These interventions may be conducive to the experience of growth reported by some participants.

Item Type:	Article
Identifier:	10.1111/hsc.13772
Additional Information:	© 2022 The Authors. Health and Social Care in the Community published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Keywords:	anxiety, COVID-19, lockdown, loneliness, psychosocial experiences, qualitative research, thematic analysis
Subjects:	Psychology
Related URLs:	Publisher
Depositing User:	Caroline Lafarge
Date Deposited:	11 Mar 2022 09:35
Last Modified:	04 Nov 2024 11:23
URI:	https://repository.uwl.ac.uk/id/eprint/8828

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