Majority of New Zealanders see a silver lining to COVID-19 lockdown

Two thirds of New Zealanders believed there have been ‘silver linings’ to the nation’s Alert Degree 4 COVID-19 lockdown imposed in March final 12 months, a College of Otago survey has discovered.

The researchers have been in a position to query New Zealanders whereas they have been at residence, giving a singular perception into their lives in the course of the nationwide lockdown between 25 March and 23 April, broadly thought to be one of many strictest imposed wherever on this planet.

One 12 months on from lockdown, the outcomes of their examine have been revealed within the worldwide scientific journal, PLOS ONE.

Individuals have been requested ‘Have you ever skilled any silver linings, or constructive facets in the course of the COVID-19 Degree 4 lockdown’ and have been in a position to reply ‘sure, for me personally’, and/or ‘sure for wider society’, or no. Of the two,010 individuals who accomplished the net survey, 64 per cent stated they may see a silver lining to lockdown.

Lead researcher Dr Matthew Jenkins says New Zealanders talked about a variety of constructive experiences throughout lockdown, from delight within the nation’s response, to having extra free time to train, take up hobbies, or construct relationships with their neighbors.

Lockdown represented a significant flashpoint in individuals’s lives and created a possibility to cease, take inventory and to mirror and join with others. Many individuals reported that kindness and serving to behaviours grew to become extra frequent over this era. They described an ‘quaint sense of neighborhood and caring that was not obvious earlier than lockdown’.”

Dr Matthew Jenkins, Examine Lead Researcher, College of Otago

Elevated flexibility in working from residence and diminished time spent commuting was regularly talked about as one of many silver linings of lockdown, enabling individuals to spend extra time with their households.

“Due to the social distancing measures in place, know-how grew to become a significant approach for individuals to attach socially and for work through on-line companies reminiscent of videoconferencing. One participant reported they ‘received to talk with my Dad, who lives abroad, every day’ whereas one other joined a world on-line knitting group to keep up social interactions.”

Others reported the delight they felt within the nation’s response to the pandemic, with one commenting, ‘we could also be a small nation, however we’re doing a tremendous job’.

“There was an elevated sense of nationwide unity, expressed by one participant as ‘… it is introduced New Zealanders collectively, united in our shared COVID expertise’.”

Individuals additionally talked concerning the respite that lockdown provided for the surroundings, with one observing there was, ‘much less air air pollution and nature (was) having a break from people destroying it’ and one other having fun with ‘listening to birds sing’.

Dr Jenkins says the analysis provides a priceless perception into what sorts of assist may assist individuals survive and thrive beneath antagonistic circumstances.

“Our findings present that in a time of turmoil, unrest and psychological misery, many individuals nonetheless discovered silver linings. We additionally speculate that, regardless of the impression of the lockdown, many individuals had their psychological wants for social connectedness and autonomy met, and these have been more likely to have influenced compliance with lockdown measures.

“Figuring out these silver linings will assist Governments and psychological well being practitioners determine the assist required to assist individuals survive and thrive throughout extended and irritating occasions, reminiscent of pandemics and lockdowns.”