Research conducted by the University of York has examined the psychological effects of the pandemic, which reached the UK in March 2020, focusing on disorientation. A new study has found that feelings of loneliness and social isolation during the pandemic have caused confusion and difficulty in remembering the order of events and what day of the week it was for many people. The study involved more than 3,300 French participants who were asked nearly 60 questions to analyze the psychological impact of the pandemic.The survey was conducted during a period of strict COVID-19 lockdowns, including a lockdown and curfew. The results showed that many people felt disoriented in social situations and had trouble keeping track of time. Participants described feeling out of place and unsure of how to act in social settings. They also reported struggling to remember events before the pandemic and to keep track of the current day of the week. This feeling of disorientation extended into the future, as participants found it difficult to imagine a post-pandemic world.The study discovered that individuals who felt disconnected from others were more likely to also experience a sense of being out of sync with time. The data indicated a cause-and-effect relationship, with social isolation leading to disruptions in the perception of time. Dr. Pablo Fernandez Velasco, the lead author of the study, noted that social disorientation was a significant predictor of temporal disorientation, suggesting a potential causal link between the two.
Loneliness and isolation have a significant impact on our perception of time, causing feelings of being lost and confused across past, present, and future. This is a common experience across all demographics in society.
A study has highlighted the need for public authorities to address the compounding effects of isolation during both crisis situations and everyday life. This is especially important for young people under 25, as they are the age group most affected by these feelings of disorientation.Researchers have identified a new phenomenon known as “temporal rupture,” which acts as a dividing line in our minds, separating the time before and after the pandemic. Dr. Fernandez Velasco stated that their study demonstrates how many people felt a distinct separation between the pre-pandemic and pandemic eras during the Covid-19 crisis. The study also found that the greater the perceived division between pre-pandemic and pandemic times, the more disoriented individuals felt. The personal stories gathered in the study contribute to a better understanding of the potential effects of loneliness and isolation resulting from the extraordinary experiences of the pandemic..”
