The Experience of Situations Before and During a COVID-19 Shelter-at-Home Period

Abstract

Undergraduate participants described their experience of an ordinary situation before (N = 544) and during (N = 123) a COVID-19 shelter-at-home period using the Riverside Situational Q-sort (RSQ). They also rated the experience’s positivity and completed a Big Five Personality Inventory. RSQ items placed higher before the sheltering period included “new relationships could develop,” “femininity can be expressed,” and “talking is expected.” Items placed higher during the sheltering period included “family is important” and “people are disagreeing.” Average positivity ratings did not differ, but relatively positive ratings before sheltering correlated with Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, and Openness; negative ratings correlated with Negative Emotionality. During sheltering, positive ratings again correlated with Agreeableness; negative ratings correlated with Conscientiousness. Sheltering conditions accentuated the importance of family, could lead to conflict, and limited opportunities for social interaction. Agreeableness was associated with positivity at both time periods; other traits varied in relevance as the situation changed.