TITLE:
Loneliness Across Cultures: A Pilot Study of the Role of Individualism and Collectivism during the COVID-19 Pandemic
AUTHORS:
Hsueh-Wen Wang, Christopher Fong, Shilpi Tripathi
KEYWORDS:
Loneliness, COVID-19 Pandemic, Individualism, Collectivism, Cultural Differences, Mental Health, Social Isolation, Cross-Cultural Study
JOURNAL NAME:
Psychology,
Vol.15 No.9,
September
11,
2024
ABSTRACT: This pilot study investigates the differential impact of loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic across Eastern and Western societies, focusing on the cultural dimensions of individualism and collectivism. A sample of 40 participants from Taiwan region, the United States, Singapore, Europe, and Japan was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results indicated that Western participants reported higher levels of loneliness, particularly associated with vertical individualism, while Eastern participants showed varying degrees of resilience linked to horizontal collectivism. The findings highlight the need for culturally tailored interventions to address loneliness during global crises.