Pandemic positivity as CSO examines attitudes five years after covid

More than a quarter of people claim the covid-19 pandemic has had a positive impact on their current relationship with their partner, according to the Central Statistics Office.

The CSO spoke to 21,000 people in its latest survey on how the pandemic has impacted our lives, five years on.

The report looked at the progress made socially among people here and found that more people reported the pandemic making a positive impact on family relationships than a negative one.

Key findings from the study include:

• 27% of respondents who lived with their partner or spouse during covid said that the pandemic had a positive impact on their relationships;
• 17% said their current relationship has been negatively impacted, while 49% felt the pandemic had no impact on their current relationship;
• Older respondents were more likely to say that the pandemic has had no impact on their relationship with their partner/spouse;
• Almost 40% of those who rated their financial situation in 2020 as bad reported that the pandemic had a negative impact on their relationship.

The impact of handshaking, which was heavily focused-on during the pandemic, was also reviewed and the study found a quarter of people now try to avoid handshaking, particularly women (32%) compared to men (18%).

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More than a quarter of respondents who rate their health as fair or bad say they now try to avoid social gatherings, while more than half say they wash their hands more often now than before the onset of the pandemic, while 6% say they wash their hands less often.

A sign about social distancing during the covid-19 pandemic. Picture: Denis Minihane

Almost 60% told the CSO that they try to avoid others when they themselves are sick.

For those of those who attended religious ceremonies in person prior to March 2020, more than half (55%) still regularly attend in-person, while 8% say they only attend online sessions. More than a third say they no longer go to religious ceremonies on a regular basis.

Younger respondents are most likely to report that social media has an impact on their mental health, with nearly two thirds (64%) saying it impacts their mental health negatively.

In comparison, just 11% of those aged 70 and over who use social media report a negative impact on their mental health.

Many people adopted a dog during the pandemic, and despite warnings that the pandemic would ease and that working from home would cease for many, around 6% of respondents who got a dog and 3% who got a cat during the pandemic now regret doing so.

Commenting on the results, Claire Burke, CSO statistician in the Income, Consumption and Wealth Division said: “Five years ago, a series of restrictions were introduced by the Irish government to curb the spread of the covid-19 virus.

“Restrictions included limiting social interactions with others, cocooning of the elderly, maintaining 1m social distancing, mask-wearing, etc. Employees were encouraged to work remotely from home where possible, which has resulted in hybrid working options for some.

“This release explores how relationships, social behaviours, social interactions with others, working habits, and consumption habits have changed five years after the introduction of covid-19 restrictions.”