Loneliness and happiness in the face of the COVID-19 lockdown: Examining the pathways through somatic symptoms and psychological distress.

Studies show that loneliness was higher during the pandemic than in the pre-pandemic periods, with negative consequences on individual happiness. This study extends current knowledge by investigating the indirect effects of somatic symptoms and psychological distress in the loneliness-happiness relationship during the COVID-19 lockdown. The cross-sectional sample comprises 538 Nigerian adults (Meanage = 36.48 ± 12.03) with 43% females. Data were collected using structured self-report instruments and subjected to path analyses in SPSS AMOS. Results showed that loneliness and happiness were negatively related. Loneliness and happiness were indirectly related through the successive association between somatic symptoms and psychological distress. Specifically, greater loneliness was associated with increased somatic symptoms, which in turn were associated with greater psychological distress and reduced happiness levels. Clinicians can manage the decline in happiness from loneliness during the pandemic lockdown by administering treatments that mitigate somatic symptoms and psychological distress in concerned clients.

School life in COVID-19 post-lockdown: differential effects of socio-demographics and adjustments on mental health indicators among university students.

We examined the differential effects of some socio-demographic; and the separate and interactive effects of types of adjustments on university students' mental health indicators (somatic symptoms, anxiety/insomnia, social dysfunction and depression). In a cross-sectional approach, we selected 603 undergraduates (Mage = 21.88, SD = 2.25) from a Nigerian university who answered a structured questionnaire that included measures of studied variables from June to August 2021. No gender difference was observed in students' mental health indicators. Social dysfunction was most reported by 3rd year students; while those from separated homes reported both anxiety and depression most. Somatic symptoms, social dysfunction, anxiety, and depression were higher among students with poor academic, social, emotional, or attachment adjustments. Students who struggled academically and socially reported more social symptoms; whereas those who struggled academically and emotionally were more depressed. Additionally, students with low social and attachment adjustments reported higher social dysfunction and depression; while those with low academic, emotional, and attachment adjustments reported higher anxiety and depression. Adjustment mechanisms are essential for students to enjoy good mental health during COVID-19 post-lockdown irrespective of their gender; especially those from broken homes. Psychological supports are regularly required to improve students' mental health during COVID-19 post-lockdown.

Gender influence on loneliness and family and nonfamily support among older adults: The confounding role of widowhood.

Based on interviews with 465 community elders in Ekiti-State, Nigeria, this study addressed the questions: (a) Do older men and women differ in self-reported loneliness, family and nonfamily support?; and (b) If so, is this relationship maintained when controlling for widowhood, age, social-engagements, extroversion, and neuroticism? Three independent models were tested using one-way MANOVA and MANCOVA. Compared to males, females reported more loneliness and less family support. However, these outcomes became nonexistent after excluding widowhood. Gender maintained significance after excluding other covariates. The study buttresses the primary importance of widowhood in the gender differences found in later-life loneliness and family supports.