Page 23 - Blue Valley News February 2021

TODAY’S CHILD
LOCKDOWN IS SHAPING OUR

SOCIAL CONNECTIONS

By Dr Ilse Ruane

Click here e have started carefully looking at these times requires creativity. I fondly or drop away entirely. During the pandemic,

our friends as potential threats. We
to view Ware avoiding people. We are faced remember March 2020 when we were people are preserving friendships via social
media instead of drinks or lunch. But there
downloading Houseparty and creating
with a moment in time where we navigate
WhatsApp support groups for one another.
is only so much time in the day to actively
consent about who we see and who we do
not. Making it even more challenging is the Many who took their social networks for arrange such ‘meetings’. What many have
neglected are the casual friendships. Let me
granted before lockdown made deliberate
scarcity of scientific information to guide us. efforts to maintain them. The resourceful explain. Before the pandemic, most of all
But without a doubt, the Covid-19 pandemic way in which people sustained networks, our interactions on a given day were face-
is taking its toll on friendships. and continue to do so, is a staggering to-face. A large proportion of those face-
testament to the human spirit. to-face interactions were with people who
The pandemic has changed the way people were just part of our day-to-day life, at work,
make and maintain friendships. The effects If lockdowns are changing the way in the school parking lot, on the kids sports
could reshape the structure of our social we socialise, what does that mean for fields or at our gym. Staying home, working
networks and change the way we think relationships and what have we learnt so far? remotely and social distancing means that
about our closest connections. On the one we have lost most of our opportunities to
hand, people who live with others (partners, 1. People need other people interact with those casual connections. They
families and roommates) are spending Friendship is an important predictor of well- are not there at the moment. We cannot very
more time together and deepening their being and life satisfaction. It can reduce our well reach out to the father you met on the
bonds. Many are renewing connections risk of illness and prolong our lives. The tighter soccer field prior to lockdown and say, ‘Let’s
with faraway friends and relatives through people are embedded in a network of friends, do a Zoom call’? But if you were still watching
online interactions, strengthening old ties, the less likely they are to become ill, and the your children play soccer, you might catch up
even as more recent casual friendships drift faster they recover if they do. The converse with him regularly. These weaker connections
away. On the other hand, people who do is also true. A lack of social connections can boost our sense of belonging and make us
not already have close relationships are have negative effects. Covid has brought with feel connected to a community, contributing
finding it tougher than ever to form them. it a rise of loneliness and disconnection for to our well-being. Our inner circle supplies
some, as we social distance from one another most of the emotional, physiological and
Why are social connections so important? and limit all sorts of contact to remain safe. psychological benefits of friendship. But
Because in times of distress human casual friendships also contribute to a long
resilience depends on social connections: We know that our circles of friendship are life and good health. We need to work on
for instance in Covid times, we need friends. not static. Casual friendships can evolve into preserving the casual interactions as well as
Making meaningful connections during closer ones, while once close friends can drift the close friendships.

BLUE VALLEY NEWS • Issue 1 2021 • 21