Is Virtual Communication Enough to Save Employed People From Feelings of Social Isolation and Loneliness?

Guljas Silva¹, Trtica Majnaric Ljiljana^2,3* & Tamer Salha^2,4

¹Department of Clinical Radiology, UHC Osijek, Croatia
²Faculty of Medicine of JJ Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
³Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health of JJ Strossmayer of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
⁴The Health Center Osijek, Osijek, Croatia

Dr. Trtica Majnaric Ljiljana, Faculty of Medicine & Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health of JJ Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia.

Keywords: COVID-19 Pandemic; Social Isolation; Virtual Communication; Employed Population

Abstract

Currently in times of COVID 19 pandemic many employed people are confined to their homes and social interaction takes place through social networks and mobile phones. Many study report about impact of pandemic on mental health in elderly population but little is known about the association between the use of social network and mobile phone and social isolation in employed people. This survey was conducted in 2020, in the town of Osijek region, eastern Croatia, and included 63 young employed people, 16 men, 46 woman, the age range of 27-64 years, who work at different work places and education levels.
An increase in communication via social networks, e-mails, and mobile phones, has been noticed in 52,4% respondents. Most of respondents, 58,7%, fight feeling of loneliness with personal activities away from online, 22,2% of them use the cell phone conversations, and 19% use the social networks.

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