Looking to the future will help preserve mental well-being during future Covid-19 lockdowns

Practicing gratitude and looking to the future will help preserve our mental well-being during future Covid-19 lockdowns, a new study in the Journal of Positive Psychology reports.

In the first such study, researchers at the University of Surrey investigated the effectiveness of three psychological interventions – nostalgia, a sentimentality from the past; gratitude, recognizing the good things currently in our life; and the best self you can get, thinking about the positives going forward – and how they each affect well-being during lockdowns. Personal characteristics such as emotion regulation (the ability to respond to and manage an emotional experience) and attachment orientations (how a person views their relationships with others) were also examined. It is believed that these characteristics may be an indicator of how an individual responds to lockouts.

In researching which intervention was most effective, the researchers worked with 216 participants who were each assigned to one of four groups, each practicing either longing, gratitude, or the best self possible, plus a control group.

Those who practiced a nostalgic approach were instructed to think of a sentimental memory in their life that occurred before the lockdown; for their gratitude, participants were encouraged to list three things that went well in their day and why; and for the best of themselves, those involved were asked to think about where they would imagine themselves in the future after the lockdown is lifted. Each member of the control group was asked to recall the plot of a recent television or movie that they had watched. Participants were then asked about their thoughts and feelings.

Researchers found that those who participated in the best self and gratitude interventions possible reported higher levels of social bonding than those who practiced nostalgia. It was also found that people in the best possible individual group felt significantly more positive emotion than those in the nostalgia group. Researchers believe that gratitude and the best possible personal attention directs toward the positive aspects of a person’s life by giving them hope and preventing individuals from dwelling on their current situation.

Amelia Dennis, a postgraduate researcher at the University of Surrey, said: “All three interventions have been shown to be beneficial for people going through a difficult time in their lives. However, as lockdowns continue, people have faced unusual challenges and many struggled. Found us that looking ahead and appreciating what is positive in our lives now is more psychologically beneficial than remembering the past.

“Current restrictions and future lockdowns have removed our sense of control over our lives. For our well-being, we need to recognize what we have rather than regret what we have lost.”

Participants were also asked about their personal characteristics regarding attachment and the regulation of emotions. Researchers have found that those who have low attachment anxiety (i.e. think they are worthy of love) and those who avoid attachment less (i.e. who have tend to feel that others are trustworthy) were more likely to experience greater well-being during lockdown. Those with higher emotion regulation have also been found to be more resilient to their current situation, which protects their overall well-being.

The two lockdowns last year have significantly affected our mental and emotional well-being and it is likely that future lockdowns will have the same effect. Reports of increased levels of depression and anxiety are cause for concern as they can negatively impact our physical health. It is important that we understand which psychological techniques can most benefit and support people during troubling and difficult times. “

Jane Ogden, Professor, Health Psychology, University of Surrey