Exploring the experiences of high-risk groups during the first UK Covid-19 lockdown through creative methods

ABSTRACT

Background: Groups at high risk of severe illness/death from COVID-19 (older people and those identified as clinically extremely vulnerable: CEV) experienced increased restrictions, poor mental health and loneliness during the first UK lockdown. Methods: Seventeen older adults, eight CEV adults, one parent of a CEV child, and two family carers of CEV adults, shared their experiences of the first UK lockdown through various media: written reflections, interviews, poetry, videos, photographs, and visual artwork. Results: Through a positive psychology lens, five themes were identified: experiencing loss; community and connection; finding joy, hope and optimism; adapting to change; and sense- and meaning-making. Conclusion: High-risk groups fostered wellbeing and flourishing and formed a sense of coherence in a time of great loss. Engagement with artistic, creative, and cultural activities facilitated this. The arts not only provided a creative means of collecting data but was also identified as a central thread in the findings.

KEYWORDS:

• Arts engagement
• Covid-19
• older people
• shielding
• wellbeing

Acknowledgments

This project was conducted with funding from the Anglia Ruskin University Research and Innovation Support Fund. The authors would like to acknowledge the contribution of StoryLab at Anglia Ruskin University to the design of the project website. Our particular thanks go to Marques Hardin from StoryLab for setting up and managing the project website.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the Anglia Ruskin University Research and Innovation Support Fund [2019/2020].