The state of mind and well-being of Lithuanians were monitored for almost 30 years: the quarantine also had an unexpected effect

Despite the fact that the new coronavirus that arrived in Lithuania changed lives and caused quite strong negative emotions for a large part of society, the quarantine also had an unexpected effect: it turns out that Lithuanians felt a sense of community and began to evaluate some aspects of life in Lithuania even more positively than before.

On the changes in the mood of the Lithuanian population for about 30 years and the impact of the quarantine on the well-being of compatriots at the conference “How to create a favorable climate to return to Lithuania?” Rasa Ališauskienė.

The mood began to deteriorate even before the pandemic.

As R. Ališauskienė said, since 1992. Lithuanians were asked a very general question in monthly polls: How do you think things are going in Lithuania for better or for worse?

“It just came to us then, be it in economics, psychology or social issues. General feeling. I came home from work, and everything is fine or, oh, everything wrong, I’m going to emigrate, ”he explained.

As can be seen from the data compiled by the Baltic Research Company, compatriots misjudged the situation in Lithuania in 2000. Then even 90 percent. thought things in the country were going in the wrong direction, and 9 percent. – to good.

The situation was even sadder in 2009, when 94 percent saw the move as bad. Only 5% of the Lithuanian population noticed positive changes.

Interestingly, there were only a few times in history who thought things were improving in Lithuania than those who felt deteriorated. 2003 52 percent. the country’s population felt that Lithuania was moving in the right direction (45% thought things were going wrong). In 2005 these figures were 57 and 40 percent, respectively. Positive opinion about the situation in the country was also stronger in 2007. – 63% felt that the movement was good, 35% felt bad.

As can be seen from the graph, Lithuania’s moods were quite positive even before the Covid-19 crisis. In February of this year, 54 percent. 44% of those surveyed said things were going well. he thought wrong. And in July of this year, there was a lot more pessimism: only 41% saw good changes, while 58% saw bad changes.

“It was a more important moment when we still had more of that red. But around 2009-2010, before and after that great economic crisis, it was as if those moods started to improve and there was a perception that things were going in the right direction. After that, the joke was an economic crisis and yet economic things in many cases lead to those evaluations and those moods have deteriorated again.

As the crisis continued to emerge from the crisis, the European Union, the euro, economic growth and we began to take a leap. Practically since 2014. for this year, the mood has been gradually improving, stabilizing, but a pandemic has arrived ”, commented R. Ališauskienė.

According to the sociologist, the mood of the population began to deteriorate even before the start of the pandemic in Lithuania, in February. She explains this with great uncertainty.

“People are confused and still a large part of society is facing complete life restrictions or unknown phenomena for the first time. If the older generation has gone through more than one economic crisis, and regime change, the collapse of the Soviet Union, perhaps more common to face cataclysms, many young people find themselves in a situation where no one depends on them for the first time. That general background has become much more disturbing and more negative than positive, “said the sociologist.

They are still more optimistic

However, according to R. Ališauskienė, despite strong emotions (anxiety, fear, anger caused by both the quarantine and the pandemic itself), the general psychological background of Lithuania is not bad.

This claim has been based by a sociologist since 1992. surveys, when Lithuanians were asked to name how they would describe the moods of the people of present-day Lithuania. When answering this question, respondents can choose between three responses: optimistic, pessimistic, and neutral.

“From 1992. to 1997 the number of optimists had decreased slightly, but here again the dawn of the economic crisis of that year. After that, the situation has changed a lot in 13 years, we have become such an optimistic society”, said the speaker.

According to the survey results, in February 2020, up to 52 percent. Lithuanians considered themselves optimistic, 12 percent. as pessimists, and 32 percent. as neutral. It is true that already in March of this year, the mood changed. 35% view Lithuanians as pessimistic. 41% of the country’s population was optimistic and 25% neutral.

Despite the fact that the ranks of compatriots who saw more pessimistic increased, R. Ališauskienė suggested looking at the difference.

“Even now, the number of optimists has remained higher than pessimists or neutrals in the last period. How important is this approach? If you expect the future to be better, then you will do something to improve. If you think the future will be gloomier, why try? ”asked the sociologist rhetorically.

According to R. Ališauskienė, research shows that the balance between optimism and pessimism, even compared to other countries, continues to move in the right direction, which means that despite a lot of anxiety, there is no total frustration or abandonment.

“You can say yes, the spring quarantine was a shock. It was a new situation and the emotions started to jump because there was a lot of adrenaline, ”he said.

Noted an improvement in some indicators

For many years, sociologists have been looking at the ranks of people who pride themselves on being Lithuanian citizens. As R. Ališauskienė explained, it is not possible to compare the responses received directly before and during the first quarantine, because the research methodologies differed slightly, but it can be seen that the number of proud people has increased significantly.

The rapporteur explained these dramatic changes with a sense of focus brought on by the pandemic. Respondents, he said, were also asked if they felt needed by society while living in Lithuania.

“We have had a problem here all the time, because it was like the division of society, half yes, half yes. It depends on your income, your lifestyle, your education, and your sense of how much you need from society. Older people often felt worse, but during the quarantine, even though you are closed, the common ground and the feeling of common problems also led to a more positive evaluation, ”R. Ališauskienė commented on the results.

It is interesting that during the quarantine, despite everything, the number of Lithuanians who feel happy also increased.

“This assessment has also improved a bit during the quarantine, even despite all the negative emotions. The landmarks were apparently a bit felt. When you don’t have a ferry, you are not happy, but when you realize that the gas station is closed, you no longer need a ferary, ”joked the director of Baltic Research.

According to R. Ališauskienė, opposition among Lithuanians has been on the wane for almost three decades. It is difficult to say how strong the sense of community will emerge and whether a more pronounced division of society will be registered again as the pandemic continues.

“It just came to our attention then. Mostly, of course, at the expense of the younger generation. What this pandemic period has done is difficult to say so far, because some polls have shown that there is a divide between you and me: I am wearing a mask and I am a skeptical mask, you listen to the government and I am opposed, you work in the budget sector, you well at home online Sit down, because they still pay you, and I am the owner of a bar and I closed myself, ”said R. Ališauskienė.