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Senior Theses
Liberal Arts and Education |
Undergraduate Student Scholarship
5-2022
The Impact of Social Isolation during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A The Impact of Social Isolation during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A
Personal Account of Social Isolation Personal Account of Social Isolation
Patricia Espinal Ramos
Dominican University of California
https://doi.org10.33015/dominican.edu/2022.CMS.ST.01
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Espinal Ramos, Patricia, "The Impact of Social Isolation during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A
Personal Account of Social Isolation" (2022).
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https://doi.org10.33015/dominican.edu/2022.CMS.ST.01
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The Impact of Social Isolation during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Personal Account of
Social Isolation
By
Patricia Espinal Ramos
Dominican University of California
Department of Communication and Media Studies
April 25, 2022
The Impact of Social Isolation during COVID-19 2
Table of Contents
Acknowledgement 3
Abstract 4
Introduction 5
Methodology 6
History of Pandemics 7
Emergence of COVID-19 8
Social Isolation 10
Definition and Types of Social Isolation 10
Misconceptions associated with Social Isolation 11
Impact of Social Isolation during COVID-19 13
Patient and Medical Care Provider relationship 16
The Unseen: The Disabled Population 18
Risks and Consequences of Social Isolation 19
Conclusion 20
References 23
Appendix A: Cover Letter of Social Isolation Research Project 26
Appendix B: Letter of Introduction for Survey Participants 27
Appendix C: Social Isolation Survey Questions and Responses 28
The Impact of Social Isolation during COVID-19 3
Acknowledgement
I would like to acknowledge all the people who played a role in this study, including all the
subjects who agreed to participate in this research project. Specifically, I want to thank Laura
Talmus, and for sharing their stories of social isolation with
Heather Bailey Kendra Gottsleben
me. Their stories highlighted the profound impact social isolation can have on individual lives.
Additionally, I would like to thank my family, especially to my Godmother, Larizza, for all their
encouragement, love and support; I can dream big and succeed because of you.
The Impact of Social Isolation during COVID-19 4
Abstract
I am no stranger to social isolation and its effects on my mental, emotional and physical health.
A variety of factors such as limited research, misconceptions associated with its impact mainly in
older adults, and its interchangeability with loneliness, previously impeded people’s knowledge
and understanding of the subject. This research paper is a hybrid of personal experiences as well
as quantitative and qualitative data that analyzed how the restrictions shed light on the effects
and misconceptions of social isolation, especially in the disabled community during the
COVID-19 pandemic. Females and males survey participants (N- 68) were asked to report their
level of knowledge and experience with social isolation both before and after the implementation
of the COVID-19 stay-at-home orders, mask and social distance mandates, while interview
participants (N-3) provided first-hand accounts on how the coronavirus pandemic socially
impacted people on an individual level within the medical and disabled communities. Results
highlighted (1) new awareness and understanding of social isolation, (2) the inaccuracy of the
misconception that only older adults are affected by social isolation, (3) exacerbated how those
medically compromised are perceived as expendable, and (4) an increase in physical and
emotional effects resulting from social isolation. Ultimately, the risks and consequences
associated with the social isolation experienced during these last two years have been profound
and far-reaching, yet further research and resources dedicated to this issue is needed to better
understand the long-lasting impact of social isolation on our society as a whole.
Keywords: social isolation, covid-19 pandemic, coronavirus, quarantine, isolation, impact
The Impact of Social Isolation during COVID-19 5
Introduction
“Human connection is the most vital aspect of our existence, without the sweet touch of another
being we are lonely stars in an empty space waiting to shine gloriously” – Joe Straynge
With the rapidly evolving, and contagious, novel coronavirus (COVID-19) sweeping through
cities across the globe, governments were forced to enact shelter-in-place orders to try to slow
the spread of the pandemic. Businesses, schools, parks, and beaches were closed all over the
world while most citizens were mandated to quarantine at home. California was one of the first
states to shut down in March 2020 after the outbreak in New York—the epicenter of the
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. The above quote could not express more clearly my
feelings over the last two years. Like so many others I felt confused, scared, lost and alone. What
we initially believed would amount to a 2-week staycation turned into months and now years of
quarantine, stay-at-home orders, mask mandates and social distancing—limiting physical
interaction with anyone outside of our social bubble. For months, people were physically and
socially isolated from one another; weddings, graduations and birthday celebrations were
canceled. Visiting loved ones - especially those in the hospital - was banned. We could not even
come together to grieve those we lost and provide proper funerals. In those moments where we
needed to see someone - we had to stay outside or wave from inside our cars while wearing
masks that covered our faces and smiles. Those of us who were lucky to have internet access,
learned to rely on phone and video calls to interact with one another. The fear of contracting the
virus and dying from it increased tenfold by the knowledge that we could not hug our loved ones
or could potentially die alone in a hospital. It was one of the hardest things our modern world has
ever experienced. The pandemic shed light to so many issues facing our society - including the
The Impact of Social Isolation during COVID-19 6
mental and physical consequences of social isolation. As a woman living with a rare medical
condition, I am no stranger to social isolation, yet for the first time ever, I felt that others were
experiencing what I endure my whole life, not only facing my own mortality on a daily basis but
the underlying feelings of social isolation and alienation imposed by society due to my condition.
The prolonged quarantine caused by the social distance restrictions set in place in response to
COVID-19 had a profound impact on my mental and emotional health, which is why I decided to
focus my senior thesis on the impact of social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. The
purpose of this paper is to explain social isolation, discuss the misconceptions associated with
social isolation, analyze the impact of social isolation during the coronavirus pandemic, to study
how the COVID-19 restrictions exacerbated the issue of social isolation, and its effects on
individual lives. This research paper is a hybrid of my own personal experience with social
isolation, along with qualitative and quantitative data. My goal is to gain a deeper understanding
of the risks and consequences of social isolation during the pandemic.
Methodology
In order to better understand the impact of social isolation during the COVID-19
pandemic across different population groups, the effects of social isolation, and how it impacts
individual lives, research methodology included both quantitative and qualitative data in the
form of a short survey, a series of interviews, and a variety of evidence-based articles and
publications. My initial research began with a short, anonymous survey designed using Google
Forms. The Social Isolation Survey consisted of six (6) multiple choice questions about social
isolation and six (6) demographic questions for statistical purposes. Open to female and male
participants, ages 18 and up, the survey was distributed via email and social media to family and
friends as well as professors, staff, and students at Dominican University of California from
The Impact of Social Isolation during COVID-19 7
November 1, 2021, to December 31, 2021. In total, 68 individuals completed and participated in
the survey. The aim of the survey was to have a basic understanding of people’s knowledge and
experience of social isolation before and after the COVID-19 restrictions were set in place. All
responses from the survey were anonymous for an unbiased result. See Appendix C on page 29
for survey questions and results. In addition to the survey, a series of semi-structured interviews
were conducted to (1) gain deeper insight into the impact of social isolation on individual lives
and (2) for the creation of a podcast show on the topic of social isolation. Similarly, to the survey,
interviews were open to females and males, ages 18 and up. Participants for the interviews were
recruited online by email. All interested participants were provided with a consent form prior to
scheduling an interview. Over a period of four months, three interviews were conducted remotely
via Zoom Video Communications, a video teleconferencing software program, and lasted
approximately one-hour each. Interviewees included the founder of a nonprofit organization
focused on social isolation impacting children and adolescents, a registered nurse, and a rare
disease and disability advocate. All interviews were both video and audio recorded through
Zoom Video Communications. The aim of the interviews was to gather first-hand accounts on
how the coronavirus pandemic socially impacted individual lives. Lastly, existing data was also
collected in the form of texts, articles, and publications focused on social isolation, the
coronavirus pandemic, and the impact of both in our society. Through the various research
methods used, I was able to gain a thorough and meaningful analysis of the overall impact of
social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
History of Pandemics
Historically, pandemics and epidemics have always existed. According to research by
doctors, Jocelyne Piret and Guy Boivin from CHU de Quebec-Laval University, “major
The Impact of Social Isolation during COVID-19 8
pandemics and epidemics such as plague, cholera, flu, severe acute respiratory syndrome
coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) have
already afflicted humanity” (2021). With societies shifting from hunter-gatherer to agrarian
societies, the spread of infectious diseases became a common occurrence in the human
population. As cities, trade and travel expanded between communities, it facilitated the
interactions between humans and animals as well as the transmission of viruses and microbes. In
the year 541, the world experienced its first human plague pandemic caused by a flea-borne
bacteria associated with wild rodents. The Plague of Justinian, which occurred in Egypt from 541
to 543, killed approximately 100 million people in the Roman Empire. Following the Plague of
Justinian, the world has lived through two other plagues, seven cholera pandemics, five flu
pandemics and two coronaviruses’ epidemics. Among the numerous pandemics and epidemics,
the Spanish Flu has been the most severe in recent history. Historically speaking, the Spanish Flu
most closely resembles what the world is currently facing. From 1918 to 1919, the Spanish
influenza swept across the globe amid the first World War, impacting 500 million people and
killing an estimated 50 million people worldwide. According to the latest COVID-19 dashboard
from John Hopkins University and Medicine, currently “the United States shows 80, 573, 408
total COVID-19 cases and 988,149 deaths” (2022).
Emergence of COVID-19
In today’s globalized world of mobile people and microbes, it is not surprising that the
power of emerging and re-emerging contagious diseases has been magnified. Often, these highly,
and rapidly, infectious diseases are invisible—lurking silently in the animal and human
world—making it hard to detect until it’s too late. The unexpected, but rapidly, evolving
outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease called SARS-CoV-2, or COVID-19, in December 2019
The Impact of Social Isolation during COVID-19 9
was no different. Disrupting lives, economies, and societies alike, the COVID-19 outbreak
challenged our way of living in unimaginable ways by forcing the global society to reconfigure
and reimagine public health, business, and school systems, as well as social interactions. “The
COVID-19 pandemic has led to implementation of unprecedented “social distancing” strategies
crucial to limiting the spread of the virus. In addition to quarantine and isolation procedures for
those who have been exposed to or infected with COVID-19, social distancing has been enforced
amongst the general population to reduce the transmission of COVID-19” (Hwang et al., 2020).
The prolonged lack of human interaction and connection resulted in an increase of social
isolation, loneliness, and depression in our society, and thus, created a double pandemic of
COVID-19 and social isolation.
When reports of an emerging novel virus in China began to appear in national news in
early 2020, the level of concern ranged from skeptical to cautious observers. For many, this was
just another flu outbreak being hyped up by the media, and nothing to worry about, especially
when it was mainly affecting China, Italy, and a few other European countries. The tide began to
shift in early March 2020, when New York became the epicenter of the United States outbreak
and California also reported confirmed cases. I knew something was seriously wrong when my
primary doctor ordered me to stay home from school on March 11, 2020. On March 19, 2020,
Governor Newsom declared a state-wide California shutdown.
The world began to unravel into a chaotic and bizarre sequence of events that utterly and
completely changed our lives. In an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19, countries across
the globe mandated school closures and stay-at-home orders. Unless you were considered an
“essential worker”, such as healthcare, law enforcement, or grocery store worker, you were not
allowed to leave your home. Only essential trips for groceries, the pharmacy or convenience
The Impact of Social Isolation during COVID-19 10
stores were permitted. As a global community, we all thought that the restrictions would only last
a couple of weeks or even a month or two. Yet, nobody could have predicted the severity of the
virus and the need to prolong the COVID-19 restrictions for almost two years. Businesses and
schools scrambled to find a way to keep the economy and education going by switching to
remote work and virtual learning, respectively. For many people, the lack of human interaction
and connection imposed by the restrictions, led to their first time experiencing any form of social
isolation, while for those who have previously felt isolated, these restrictions provided a chance
for understanding the impacts of social isolation on a global level. The concept of feeling
isolated or being socially isolated was often difficult to explain to others, but now with this
shared global experience, most of the world finally understands what it feels like, and words are
no longer needed.
Social Isolation
Definition and Types of Social Isolation
Beyond Differences, an organization that aims to inspire youths nationwide to end social
isolation, defines social isolation as “a lack of social connections” (2022). In other words, it
means being socially and emotionally disconnected from others. Beyond Differences explains
that social isolation can be perceived or experienced in three ways: (1) Physical Social Isolation,
being physically separated from others; (2) Loneliness, the gap between what we desire for
social connections and what we are experiencing; and (3) Social Isolation, being in the same
physical space as others, but being alienated, invisible, not seen. Founded in 2010 by Laura
Talmus and Ace Smith to honor the life and memory of their daughter, Lili, Beyond Differences
has grown into a national movement to educate the public and schools across the nation on the
issue of social isolation, and to build cultures of belonging. “Like many young people, Lili
The Impact of Social Isolation during COVID-19 11
suffered from social isolation in middle school. Lili was born with Apert Syndrome, a rare
cranial-facial anomaly, which caused her peers and teachers to treat her differently than other
students. She was not bullied or teased but was often treated as if she were invisible…Social
isolation was not recognized as a serious public health issue at the time, which amplified Lili’s
pain and loneliness (“Lili’s Story,” 2022). While Lili’s experience with social isolation isn’t
uncommon, society’s lack of knowledge and understanding of the concept has led to many
misconceptions of the subject.
Misconceptions associated with Social Isolation
A 2020 report from the National Academies of Sciences et al. explains that “a systematic
and rigorous science of social relationships and their consequences, especially in terms of health,
emerged in the latter part of the 20th century as part of a broader recognition of the role of social
determinants of health. By the beginning of the 21st century, several aspects of social
relationships were being studied systematically in research and had been identified as potential
influences on human health” (2020). As such, even though the science of social relationships and
their consequences on health and well-being has been documented for decades, the topics of
social isolation and loneliness, which are significant but underappreciated public health risks,
have only recently garnered attention in the mass media both nationally and internationally.
According to the Social Isolation Survey conducted, 92.6% of participants reported knowing
what social isolation was at the time of this survey—post COVID-19—compared to only 69.1%
of participants who responded being aware of the concept prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is
important to note that even though most of those surveyed reported knowing what social
isolation is now, only 47 of 68 were aware of this concept and issue prior to the enactment of the
shelter-in-place restrictions. Several factors contribute to the slight difference between people
The Impact of Social Isolation during COVID-19 12
knowing and being aware of social isolation, including the relatively newness of the concept
itself and common misconceptions about the topic.
Besides, the recent, and limited, social and scientific research focused on social isolation,
the erroneous misconception that social isolation is only experienced by the elderly, is a factor
that impacts people’s knowledge and understanding of the subject. Up until a few years ago,
social isolation and loneliness were health risks commonly associated with the older adult
population. Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, “approximately one-quarter (24 percent) of
community-dwelling Americans aged 65 and older are considered to be socially isolated, and a
significant proportion of adults in the United States report feeling lonely (35 percent of adults
aged 45 and older and 43 percent of adults aged 60 and older)” (National Academies of Sciences
et al., 2020). Per the Social Isolation Survey, 54.4% of the participants reported experiencing
social isolation prior to the implementation of COVID-19 Social Distance/Shelter-in-Place
Guidelines. Of those surveyed, 66.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24, 14.7% were between
the ages of 25 and 34, 8.8% were between the ages of 35 and 44; 5.9% were between the ages of
45 and 54 and 2.9% over the age of 55 years of age. The likelihood of high levels of social
isolation and loneliness in older adulthood is possibly a result of various circumstances such as
retirement, chronic conditions, limited physical mobility, families moving away and/or members
of their social peer group passing away. The sample survey demonstrates that social isolation can
be experienced at all stages of life and is not unique to the social world of older people. This has
only been exacerbated by the restrictions and mandates resulting from the current pandemic.
Another common misconception of social isolation is its interchangeability with
loneliness. Although social isolation and loneliness can occur at the same time and cause similar
symptoms, they do not share the same definition. “While the term loneliness refers to subjective
The Impact of Social Isolation during COVID-19 13
feelings, social isolation is defined by the level and frequency of one’s social interactions. As a
generally accepted concept, loneliness is defined as the subjective feeling of being alone, while
social isolation describes an objective state of individuals’ social environments and interactional
patterns” (Hwang et la., 2020). In other words, you can be lonely in a crowd, yet not be socially
isolated. “This distinction is important because a person can have the subjective experience of
being isolated even when they have frequent contact with other people and conversely, they may
not feel isolated even when their contact with others is limited” (Clair et la., 2021). Although
each concept has slightly different meanings, they are both painful experiences that can have a
harmful impact on individual lives. What the COVID-19 outbreak experience has done is
provide a new inclusive understanding of social isolation. The understanding now is that “social
isolation describes the absence of social contact and [may] lead to loneliness. It is a state of being
cut off from normal social networks, which can be triggered by factors such as loss of mobility,
unemployment, or health issues. Isolation can involve staying at home for lengthy periods of
time, having no access to services or community involvement, and little or no communication
with friends, family, and acquaintances” (“What is Social Isolation?”, n.d.). With this new
understanding of social isolation, and with the knowledge that it is not solely affecting the older
adult population, society may now be able to more readily recognize symptoms and
consequences of social isolation as a broader concern.
Impact of Social Isolation during COVID-19
With the awareness of social isolation that already existed prior to COVID-19, and the
new understanding of the prevalence within society as a whole, we can now see just how affected
our communities have been by the social isolation we were all forced into starting in 2020. The
need to slow the spread of the virus via quarantine, stay-at-home orders, mask mandates and
The Impact of Social Isolation during COVID-19 14
social distance guidelines has worsened an already serious problem. “With the exception of
“essential workers,” the pandemic has meant limiting physical proximity to those with whom one
lives. For the 28 percent of Americans who live alone, this has meant little to no human contact
for months. Regardless of living situation, interactions with anyone outside the home have been
severely limited for everyone” (Holt-Lunstad, 2020). According to surveys conducted in the first
months of the coronavirus pandemic, loneliness increased by 20-30% with emotional distress
tripling. The essential quarantine and restrictions measures for COVID-19 came at a high cost,
especially for those older than 60 years old, who in the early days of the pandemic, were
perceived as being at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19 and with a greater risk of severe
illness, hospitalizations, and deaths. “According to the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine, the
case fatality rate (CFR) is about 4% for patients over 60 years old, 8% for patients over age 70
years, and approximately 15% for patients over the age of 80. This compares with CFR of
0.0026%–0.3% in those under age 45” (Hwang et al., 2020). As a way of protecting the elderly
population, many state and private institutions banned family and friend visits to hospitals,
nursing homes, and other long-term care facilities. These bans caused increased feelings of social
isolation and may have also contributed to a number of deaths due to loneliness.
Other groups who were disproportionated victims of COVID-19, included people with
disabilities, people of color, and those with low-income. Already at a higher risk for poor health,
social isolation and loneliness prior to the pandemic, these populations experienced
pandemic-related inequities in access that contributed to their risk of social isolation. “For
example, the prevalence of loneliness is higher among low-income individuals, who may be less
able to work remotely and subsequently more likely to lose employment” (Holt-Lundstad, 2020).
For other marginalized and vulnerable populations such as older adults and people with
The Impact of Social Isolation during COVID-19 15
disabilities, being deemed as “high risk” in the current pandemic added additional stress and
fears to an already stressful situation. “Compared to the general population, people with
disabilities have fewer friends, less social support and are more socially isolated” (Emerson et
al., 2021). As such, having to adhere to COVID-19 restrictions and social distance guidelines has
“intensified the social isolation and loneliness faced by individuals with disabilities, who are
usually home-bound and have limited physical functioning” (Shafiq et al, 2020). In general,
people with disabilities report higher levels of social isolation than non-disabled individuals.
As someone born with MPS VI, a rare genetic condition that causes progressive damage
to cells in the body and an immunocompromised immune system, I am at a higher risk of
contracting COVID-19. As such, when the pandemic began, my social interactions were limited
to those in my household, which only included my parents. We were not even able to see my
brother and sister-in-law. After the realization that the pandemic would last more than a couple
of weeks or months, my social bubble slowly expanded to a limited number of close family
members who were also strictly following social distancing guidelines and mask mandates,
especially in my presence. With school closing and moving towards online classes, I could no
longer physically interact with my professors and classmates. Instead, we were forced to try to
learn and connect through Zoom. Ironically, my only saving grace was that my mother was still
able to take me to the hospital to receive my weekly 5-hour infusions, where we have cultivated
a number of relationships with other patients, nurses, doctors, and staff members over the years.
While I was able to continue my weekly infusions at the children’s hospital in Oakland, the
interactions were no longer the same. To slow the spread of the virus, health and safety protocols
were implemented at the infusion center: patients and visitors had to wear masks at all times,
limited to interact solely with their assigned nurse, a bed was left unoccupied in between beds to
The Impact of Social Isolation during COVID-19 16
physically distance patients, and curtains were drawn around each bed to minimize interactions
between patients. These measures, although helpful to mitigate the spread of coronavirus,
contributed to patients’ social isolation and prompted questions of how radically our healthcare
system was changed as a result of the pandemic.
Patient and Medical Care Provider relationship
With COVID-19 being highly transmissible through human contact, nurses and health
care providers across the nation were forced to adhere to strict coronavirus restrictions that
allowed them solely the necessary contact with patients to conduct procedures and treatments to
protect themselves and their patients. These measures, ultimately, both minimized the
interactions, and created a disconnect between patients and their health care providers. This
prevented nurses and doctors from providing patients the comfort they desperately needed under
such unprecedented times and further added to the social isolation felt by all. Besides these
physical restrictions, health care workers also had to wear personal protective equipment (PPE)
such as N95 masks, safety glasses, and coveralls, which further added to the disconnect and
isolation among patients and health care workers. Face mask guidelines also created a
communication barrier between healthcare providers and their patients.
While I, as a patient, felt detached from my medical support team, I didn’t realize the
nurses were also feeling the same way. I was able to interview Heather, one of my infusion
nurses at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland. She shared, “I think one of the hardest
things is – especially working in a children’s hospital – is not being able to really connect in a
physical way with our patients. I mean, not being able to hug them, or touch them, or just see
their faces. I mean it’s definitely a disconnect when you want to be there for them and reassure
The Impact of Social Isolation during COVID-19 17
them. It’s hard when you are not able to do those things; when you don’t have the answers, and
everybody is afraid of getting sick or passing it on to someone else” (Espinal Ramos, 2022).
At hospitals across the nation everything was impacted from distribution and supplies to the
number of patients they were allowed to treat, as well as to the way healthcare workers interacted
with patients. At the infusion center, where Heather works, the COVID-19 restrictions lead to a
constant juggling act. “Thankfully, we managed to see [our] patients. it was just a matter of
figuring out how to fit them all in the schedule. It’s figuring out how to see patients in less time,
being as fast as we possibly can and moving to the next person. So, then there’s more of a
disconnect, because you cannot interact or really spend time with the patient, because we are
trying to get them out as fast as we can, because we want to be able to see everyone” (Espinal
Ramos, 2022). Simply put, they were forced to treat healthcare like an assembly line. Alternative
and sometimes creative, scheduling would need to take place to ensure patients continued to
receive the therapies they needed. If scheduling was not an option, then, patients would need to
be admitted as in-patient—which created higher anxiety if they had to be left alone—or seek care
somewhere else. Ultimately, while these measures helped to mitigate the spread of COVID-19,
they greatly contributed to both patients and health care workers’ social isolation.
Since the pandemic began, the world has been inexplicably, inextricably, and
simultaneously connected and divided. As individuals, families, local and global communities
we were forced to maintain physical distance from each other to protect ourselves and those
around us from COVID-19. Yet, at the same time the one commonality shared worldwide was
the physical isolation, as we were all mandated to quarantine and shelter-in-place. Of those
surveyed in the Social Isolation Survey, 77.9% of participants reported experiencing physical
The Impact of Social Isolation during COVID-19 18
social isolation, with 72% reporting experiencing loneliness and 48.5% experiencing social
isolation (feeling unseen or invisible). It seems that I was not alone in feeling alone.
The Unseen: The Disabled Population
Like many others, with the world on lockdown, my life changed completely. While this
paper is not an analysis of the political aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic and how it was
handled, the reality is that the pandemic not only caused fear, panic, anxiety, and loneliness but
also a historically divided nation became even more so when it came down to the politicization
of COVID-19 restrictions and vaccines, which further contributed to people’s social isolation.
For vulnerable populations such as the elderly, people with disabilities and underlying medical
conditions, it was disappointing and difficult to watch some of their family members, friends,
neighbors, and community members disregard COVID-19 restrictions such as face masks and
stay-at-home orders. Many, like myself, were forced to limit their interactions with those who
didn’t want to do their part to slow the spread of a highly, and deathly, contagious virus, thus
prolonging their quarantine and further adding to their social isolation. This situation caused me
to feel unseen or valued by family, friends, and society. With the media and health organizations
proclaiming that only those over 60 years old and with chronic conditions were the groups at
greater risk of contracting and dying from COVID-19, it was disarming to see how little regard
society has for us. Since the elderly and those with underlying conditions or disabilities are at a
higher risk of being infected with COVID-19, they’re the ones that were expected and demanded
to isolate and follow the rules, while those at a “lesser” risk of infection felt it was okay to forgo
all health and safety measures. I was forced to limit my physical interactions with family and
friends. I could no longer go to school nor out to the movies or shopping. My daily life became a
series of virtual classes and virtual family “get-togethers' ' on Zoom. That said, I adhered closely
The Impact of Social Isolation during COVID-19 19
to the quarantine guidelines because I did not have the luxury of getting sick. I had anxiety just
thinking about the possibility of being admitted to the hospital and being left alone. Due to my
rare disease, my mother is my full-time caregiver and I have never spent a night at the hospital
by myself. Because I am legally an adult, our greatest fear was not so much of being sick, but of
being sick and alone in a hospital. Like everyone else, I felt scared, anxious, and lonely.
Ultimately, it felt as though the elderly and chronically ill were disposable. In fact, “in
early January, one of the country’s top public health officials went on national television and
delivered what she called “really encouraging news” on covid-19: A recent study showed that
more than three-fourths of fatalities from the omicron variant of the virus occurred among people
with several other medical conditions. “These are people who were unwell to begin with,” said
Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Walensky’s
remarks infuriated Americans with disabilities, who say the pandemic has highlighted how the
medical establishment—and society at large—treats their lives as expendable” (Scheier, 2022).
With this statement the CDC director further isolated those who normally go unseen and
completely disregarded the very real health risks and consequences resulting from being socially
isolated.
Risks and Consequences of Social Isolation
The prolonged quarantine and social isolation imposed to limit the spread of COVID-19
has led to the emergence of several mental disorders that have aversively impacted people’s
physical and mental health. “The most common psychological disorders emerging are anxiety
and panic, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, insomnia, digestive problems, as well as depressive
symptoms and post-traumatic stress” (Pietrabissa & Simpson, 2020). As a public health risk,
research “shows that the magnitude of risk presented by social isolation is very similar in
The Impact of Social Isolation during COVID-19 20
magnitude to that of obesity, smoking, lack of access to care and physical inactivity” (Novotney,
2019). Results from the Social Isolation Survey shows how participants have been affected by
the stay-at-home orders implemented: 84.4% of participants reported feeling low motivation,
81.3% experienced anxiety, 75% loneliness, and 71.9% depression. Other symptoms shared by
survey participants included fatigue (70.3%), weight loss/weight gain (51.6%), disruptive sleep
(48.4%), insomnia (40.6%), increased alcohol consumption (18.8%) and nicotine use (1.6%).
Not only are these health issues a direct consequence of the pandemic, but they are largely a
result of prolonged social isolation. While these effects are an immediate result of the COVID-19
restrictions, they are likely to outlive the current pandemic.
Conclusion
As human beings we are social creatures as such human connection is a vital part of our
existence. We interact with others daily—family members, neighbors, classmates, coworkers to a
stranger on the street. Until it became our daily reality, the idea that we would need to sacrifice
our social connections to survive, was no more than a plotline in a sci-fi movie. “The struggle to
balance literal survival with all the things that make surviving worthwhile has never been so
clear, with the COVID-19 pandemic forcing many to sacrifice social connections – and therefore
quality of life – for life itself” (Holt-Lunstad, 2020). As I sit here and watch as our country
continues the process of reopening and returning to normal, I am continuously replaying the last
two years. Remembering those early confusing days of the pandemic where nothing mattered
more than to protect ourselves even if it meant sacrificing our human and social connections for
what we thought would be a few weeks of quarantine. When stay-at-home orders and social
distance guidelines were implemented to slow the spread of COVID-19, nobody could have
foreseen the profound social impact it would have all over the globe. The writing of this paper
The Impact of Social Isolation during COVID-19 21
gave me an opportunity to not only look back but to also understand the impact of social
isolation during these last two years as well as gain knowledge and raise awareness on an
otherwise underappreciated public health risk.
Beyond the literal meaning of a lack of social connections, social isolation is an objective
state that defines the absence of social contact, in which a person is cut off from normal social
networks due to a variety of factors and forced to stay home for prolonged periods of times, with
little to no communication with family, friends, or acquaintances. Social isolation is not a new
concept. It is a health risk that has always existed in our society. Yet, a variety of factors such as
limited research, misconceptions associated with its impact mainly in older adults, and its
interchangeability with loneliness, has impeded people’s knowledge and understanding of the
subject. Because of the pandemic, we now have a better understanding of the concept and
meaning of social isolation. In the last two years we have witnessed the importance placed on
mental health including the risks and consequences associated with this topic. While the Social
Isolation Survey, the interviews conducted, and the relevant data research has allowed me to gain
a thorough and meaningful analysis of the overall impact of social isolation during the
COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to note that future research and resources dedicated to this
topic will allow us to understand the lasting impact of social isolation on individuals and society
as a whole. Such resources should include creating initiatives and/or programs for those of us
who were once considered disposable.
As a woman living with a rare medical condition, I was no stranger to social isolation
prior to the pandemic. That said, during this pandemic, I experienced all three forms of social
isolation —physically isolated from family and friends, loneliness from the prolonged
quarantine, and invisible to a society that undervalues the lives of people with disabilities - but
The Impact of Social Isolation during COVID-19 22
for the first time I was not alone with this experience. Finally, it seemed that more people
understood this feeling of loneliness, anxiety, depression, and isolation. I never had a name for
what I was feeling. But with the implementation of the stay-at-home orders, social distance
restrictions and mask mandate there was finally a name, and everyone was able to define it. In
my research and this journey of self-reflection, I realized that physical isolation was more
difficult for me. While there were numerous ways to interact or communicate using various
forms of technology—I missed feeling safe in a room full of people, and the comfort that comes
from a simple hug or touch. I learned to appreciate the connections that I have and put into
perspective my past history with social isolation. I came to the realization that some of the social
isolation I experienced prior to the pandemic was largely due to my personal insecurities and fear
of putting myself out to be rejected. On the contrary, the social isolation inflicted by the COVID
19 restrictions felt different because I was in fear for my life and those around me. My
re-emergence to “normal” consists of developing a balance between keeping myself safe while
also pushing myself to engage socially with others outside of my social bubble. This is my call to
action for myself.
The Impact of Social Isolation during COVID-19 23
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The Impact of Social Isolation during COVID-19 26
Appendix A: Cover Letter of Social Isolation Research Project
Dear Study Participant,
My name is Patricia Espinal Ramos, and I am an undergraduate Communications and Media
Studies major at Dominican University of California. I am conducting a research project as part
of my senior thesis requirements. This work is being supervised by Bradley Van Alstyne,
Assistant Professor of Communications at Dominican University of California. I am requesting
your voluntary participation in my study, focusing on the impact of social isolation during the
COVID-19 pandemic.
The purpose of my research is to study how the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated social
isolation across different population groups, the effects of social isolation, and how it impacts
individual lives. As part of my research, I will conduct both a survey and a series of interviews,
which will discuss how the coronavirus pandemic contributed to social isolation, the mental and
physical consequences of social isolation, and how individuals manage their social isolation
during quarantine and in their everyday lives. These interviews will allow me to gather first-hand
information on how COVID-19 socially impacted individual lives.
Participation in this study involves completing a short survey questionnaire about your
knowledge of social isolation before and after the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions were set in
placed, as well as some demographic questions to be used for statistical purposes, and a 30-45
minute interview on your experience with social isolation before and during quarantine. Please
note that your participation is completely voluntary, and you are free to withdraw your
participation at any time. In addition, all survey responses will be kept completely confidential.
As part of my research project, the recorded interviews will be turned into a podcast show, which
will both allow individuals to share their personal stories and journeys with social isolation
during the coronavirus pandemic and raise much-needed awareness on social isolation. If you do
not want your interview posted on the podcast show, you may request an anonymous interview.
Before participating in the interview portion of the research, participants must complete a
consent form. Upon receiving the signed consent form; I will schedule a remote meeting with the
participant.
If you have any questions about the research, you may contact me at
Thank you in advance for your participation.
Sincerely,
Patricia Espinal Ramos
Communications and Media Studies, Class of 2022
Dominican University of California
The Impact of Social Isolation during COVID-19 27
Appendix B: Letter of Introduction for Survey Participants
Dear Study Participants,
My name is Patricia Espinal Ramos, and I am an undergraduate Communications and Media
Studies major at Dominican University of California. I am conducting a research project as part
of my senior thesis requirements. This work is being supervised by Bradley Van Alstyne,
Assistant Professor of Communications at Dominican University of California. I am requesting
your voluntary participation in my study, focusing on the impact of social isolation during the
COVID-19 pandemic.
Participation in this study involves completing a short survey questionnaire about your
knowledge of social isolation before and after the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions were set in
place, as well as some demographic questions to be used for statistical purposes. Please note
that your participation is completely voluntary, and you are free to withdraw your
participation at any time. In addition, all survey responses will be kept completely confidential.
Filling out the survey is likely to take less than 10 minutes of your time.
If you choose to participate in this study, please complete the Social Isolation Survey at your
earliest convenience.
As part of my research project, I am also creating a podcast show to discuss the topic of social
isolation. If you would like to be interviewed, please email me for more information.
If you have questions about the research, you may contact me at the email address below, my
research supervisor, Bradley Van Alstyne at (415) 485-3293 or the Dominican University of
California Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human Participants (IRBPHP), which
is concerned with protection of volunteers in research projects. You may reach the IRBPHP
Office by calling (415) 482-3547 or writing to the IRBPHP, Office of the Associate Vice
President for Academic Affairs, Dominican University of California, 50 Acacia Avenue, San
Rafael, CA 94901
If you would like to know the results of this study once it has been completed, a summary of
results will be presented at Dominican University of California’s Scholarly and Creative Works
Conference in April 2022.
Thank you in advance for your participation.
Sincerely,
Patricia Espinal Ramos
Communications and Media Studies
The Impact of Social Isolation during COVID-19 28
Appendix C: Social Isolation Survey Questions and Responses
The Impact of Social Isolation during COVID-19 29
The Impact of Social Isolation during COVID-19 30
