Understanding Happiness Amidst COVID-19: Exploring Relations, Religion and Trust

Abstract

In recent literature, various social implications arising from the COVID-19 pandemic have been extensively deliberated upon. In this study, we introduce an ordinal random effects model designed to explore the changes in individual perceived happiness during periods of lockdown. We delve into the impact of diverse factors such as social and family relationships, spirituality, religiosity, and trust in institutions, alongside a range of demographic and economic variables. Our data set comprises responses from 1212 individuals in the United States gathered between March and April 2020. The findings reveal an anticipated decline in overall happiness during the COVID-19 crisis, particularly noticeable within specific demographic and behavioural segments: social connections, trust, and religiosity exhibit nuanced variations, contingent upon the level of spirituality and the specific institutions under consideration.