Loneliness During the Covid-19 Pandemic: Moderating Effects of Extroversion and Introversion

Abstract

Individuals were faced with a variety of challenges during Covid-19, one of which was adjusting to the “new normals” of the lockdown. The current study examines the moderating effects of extraversion and introversion on two dimensions i.e., loneliness and covid related anxiety. A total of 139 participants between the ages of 18 and 25 years old were considered. 60 men and 79 women were selected using convenience sampling. McCroskey Introversion Scale, UCLA loneliness Scale and SAVE-6 scale were used to assess extraversion, loneliness and covid-19 related anxiety for the participants. The relationship between variables was determined through the Pearson’s Product moment correlation. The findings suggest that people higher on the extraversion were less likely to experience loneliness than introverts. No correlation was found between the two personality traits and covid-19 related anxiety. t-tests were conducted to check any gender differences on the three scales however, no significant differences were found.