Research Article: Fear, Loneliness, Happiness and Mental Health in the Post-COVID- Period: A Cross-Cultural Study in a Sample of Japanese and Polish University Students

Abstract:
During the COVID- pandemic, social participation changed radically due to the high transmission rate of the virus. World Health Organization data from March indicate that nearly million people in Europe have contracted Covid-. Almost people have died. Worldwide, nearly million people have been infected with Covid- and . million have died (representing % of those infected). To limit the spread of the disease, the governments of many countries imposed severe restrictions on social contact. Lockdowns, quarantines and social distancing limited direct interactions between people. While justified, the social measures taken have not been without consequences for the well-being of those who had to adhere to them Social isolation and other changes to daily life have affected the wellbeing and the level of loneliness of those subject to the restrictions. Loneliness became a problem that most of the population locked up in their homes and deprived of everyday interpersonal encounters had to face. Contact with other people was restricted as everyone had to wear masks and abide by other protection measures taken to contain the virus: bans on leaving home, quarantine and social distancing. All countries introduced social contact regulations, which put a curb on social interactions to varying degrees, inhibiting the naturalness and spontaneity of interpersonal relationships. The lockdown/post-lockdown periods generated temporally and demographically distinct COVID- related fears patterns, with special regard to youth and elderly, two particularly vulnerable populations when faced with sudden and unexpected dramatic events., The “lockdown” measures, adopted to restrict population movements in order to help curb the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-) pandemic, contributed to a global mental health crisis. After lifting the lockdown, a statistically significant increase in suicidal behavior and psychomotor agitation was observed, as well as a decrease in diagnoses of behavioral disorders., As research shows, the COVID- pandemic significantly reduced the ability to cultivate interpersonal relationships, resulting in feelings of loneliness and experiences of social isolation. Understanding the determinants of increased feelings of loneliness in the pandemic is important as loneliness is a significant predictor of the onset or severity of symptoms of depression and anxiety disorders. Labrague’s research found that the increase in loneliness was also affected university students. Studies conducted in the Polish population have shown similar relationships.

Introduction:
During the COVID- pandemic, social participation changed radically due to the high transmission rate of the virus. World Health Organization data from March indicate that nearly million people in Europe have contracted Covid-. Almost people have died. Worldwide, nearly million people have been infected with Covid- and . million have died (representing % of those infected). To limit the spread of the disease, the governments of many countries imposed severe restrictions on social contact. Lockdowns, quarantines and…

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