Coronavirus has completely changed the nature of everyday life in the U.S., with social distancing forcing people to stay in except for essential work and necessary purchases like groceries and pharmaceuticals. Americans have had to deal with these changes in many ways, from altering their day-to-day habits to wearing protective clothing when they do venture out. People have also had to manage the stress and anxiety that comes with staying isolated. It turns out that the number one way Americans cope with social distancing is by shopping online, with the next most common methods being cleaning and learning something new, according to a recent nationally representative WalletHub survey.
Social distancing is stressful, but Americans are coping in a variety of ways. For more insight into the lifestyle Americans need to follow until the crisis is over, WalletHub turned to a panel of experts.
Phoebe C. Ellsworth
What does it tell you that 36 million Americans' #1 way to cope with social distancing is online shopping?
This does not surprise me. Stores are closed and many people are unwilling to venture out into even those that are open, so online shopping is the only way to get food and supplies. Your phrasing makes it sound as though it’s a psychological mechanism for coping with solitude, but there’s a much more practical explanation.
Why do you think women are 40% more likely to feel anxious than men due to social distancing?
I don’t know that this 40% figure is true. If it is, one possibility is that women are much more willing to describe themselves as anxious than men are in any circumstances. Another is that social relationships are more important to women than to men.
Read the full article at WalletHub.
