Lockdown as an opportunity for personal growth

During April 2020 we conducted a public online survey on how Italians experienced the weeks of the lockdown from a personal and evolutionary point of view. In this article , with which we launched the survey, we explain why the lockdown represented a personal evolutionary opportunity.

We have identified 7 opportunities for personal growth and asked to express an evaluation on the relevance to one’s own experience, to what extent some statements actually corresponded to one’s personal experience.

1. I’m clarifying my overall priorities , what really matters in my life.
2. I am understanding the realvalue of the freedoms we are used to and take for granted.
3. I am feeling more strongly and deeply the importance of human bonds and sharing : with family, friends but also with the community to which I belong.
4. I am discovering the value of simplicity and that I can easily do without many things.
5. I am discovering the value of time, slowness and the sense of the “here and now”.
6. I am learning new things , learning new skills, cultivating a passion.
7. I am becoming aware of being resilient and able to adapt even in such a difficult situation.

For each statement, the respondents chose one of the following evaluations:
–    It does not match me – It does not match me
– It matches me little
– It matches me enough
– It matches me a lot
– It ‘s just what I am experiencing

And in closing we asked if they think this period will change them forever or not.

The composition of the sample

We want to thank all those who participated, for having dedicated even just a few minutes of their time touching intimate and anything but trivial topics. Participation was important and in itself is already a significant figure: 1,477 respondents .

Below is the composition of the sample with% rounded to the unit:
–     Age : 3% less than 25, 9% 25-34, 24% 35-44, 36% 45-54, 28% over 55
–     Gender : women 85 %, men 15%
–     Geographical area : 55% north, 30% center, 15% south and islands
–     I live with … : 37% alone, 21% with partner or friends, 42% with family and children

The results of the survey on lockdown and personal growth

Here are the 7 points in order of relevance, the% indicates the people who answered “It corresponds a lot to me” or “This is what I am experiencing”:

1.    74% : I am clarifying my general priorities, on what you count really in my life.
2.     69% : I am becoming aware of being resilient and able to know how to adapt even in such a difficult situation.
3.     65% : I am understanding the real value of the freedoms we are used to and take for granted.
4.     65% : I am discovering the value of simplicity and that I can easily do without many things.
5.     63%: I’m discovering the value of time, slowness and the sense of the “here and now”.
6.     57% : I am feeling more strongly and deeply the importance of human bonds and sharing: with family, friends but also with the community to which I belong.
7.     42% : I’m learning new things, learning new skills, cultivating a passion.

In general, there seems to be an attitude, if not positive, at least constructive in terms of personal growth in experiencing this period of restrictions, given the previous%. Furthermore, the% of those who answered “I do not match” or “I do not match” is always around 10%.

The fact of clarifying general priorities, a kind ofbalance of one’s life , together with the discovery of being resilient , are the points that correspond most to the experience of the respondents. In particular, point 1. is also the one that has the highest% of those who answered “This is exactly what I am experiencing” with 45%. 

The importance of human bonds and sharingalthough it is relevant, it is felt to a lesser extent, probably because it is a trait already experienced normally, an “Italian” trait, as is sharing. It is also true that social media, in this period, give the possibility to nourish relationships of any kind on a daily basis, even if we suffer physical distances, and at the same time only 37% live alone, while the rest have the possibility and the time to live, and probably even more intensely, the bonds with the people with whom he lives (family, partner, friends). It is interesting to note that among those who live only 51% chose “I like it a lot” or “This is exactly what I’m experiencing”, while for those who live with the family this percentage rises to 64%.

Compared to the previous point, it is however interesting to note thatthose who live with a partner (without children) or with friends have a higher% than those who live alone or with a family of answers “I think a lot” or “That’s what I’m experiencing”: 49% of those who live with partners / friends compared to 36% of those who live alone or with family.